Suicide Bomb in Tel Aviv Shatters Tranquility

Jan. 19, 2006 — -- The blast could be heard for miles.

A Palestinian bomber blew himself up at a Tel Aviv fast-food stand today, wounding at least 20 people just a week before the Palestinian parliamentary election.

The militant Islamic group Jihad claimed responsibility in a telephone call to the Associated Press. The group has been responsible for all six suicide bombings in Israel in the past year, and is the only faction boycotting the Jan. 25 election.

But the suicide bomb in Tel Aviv did not have the impact that it was likely meant to have. Witnesses say strong stone walls in the fast-food restaurant saved people nearby.

Only the suicide bomber was killed.

The bomber, who witnesses said pretended to be a peddler selling disposable razors, walked into the Mayor's Shwarma in a pedestrian mall near the old central bus station, according to AP.

Yehiel Ohana, who works in a nearby store, said the AP the bomber wore a black coat and black stocking cap, and aroused his suspicions because of his unsteady gait and the sunny day.

"The guy was standing at the corner of the street, looking like he was waiting for someone," Ohana told AP. "He swayed strangely. Then he went into the shwarma stand, and two to three seconds later, we heard the explosion. Everything shuddered. We entered the shwarma stand, and we saw him lying on the floor, and then we understood he was a suicide bomber."

Blood, shattered glass and debris covered the ground, according to AP. The windows of a parked car were blown out, and helmeted security forces cordoned off the area, the AP reported.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said the bombing was meant to stop the Palestinian election.

"This is sabotage and aimed at sabotaging the elections, not only the elections but also the security of Palestinians," Abbas said.

Palestinians will vote in their first free and fair elections next Wednesday. Some militant groups do not want to see the elections go ahead, as they will likely lose power in any new legitimate democratic government.

Islamic Jihad is the only group to boycott Wednesday's vote.

President Bush has urged Abbas to make sure the election moves forward.

"We call upon the Palestinian Authority to do everything it can to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure."

The last suicide bombing was in Netanya on Dec. 5.

ABCNEWS's Wilf Dinnick contributed to this report