US President George W Bush has condemned the bomb attack in Netanya, and called on Yasser Arafat to do everything in his power to stop what he called "terrorist killing". Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the US envoy, General Anthony Zinni would remain in the region ready for further talks. More than 200 guests were sitting down to the traditional Passover Seder feast in Netanya's Park Hotel when a Palestinian suicide bomber walked in and blew himself up. At least 19 people were killed and more than 100 injured as the blast ripped through the dining room of the beachside hotel. The guests were just about to start their meal when Hamas member Abdel-Basset Odeh struck. He walked through the hotel lobby into the restaurant and detonated the explosives attached to his belt.Arafat's Palestinian Authority condemned the bombing in Netanya, and vowed to hunt down those behind the attack.

But political analysts on both sides said Sharon, under pressure from right-wing members of his coalition government, could launch a broad military offensive to try to quell the 18-month-old Palestinian revolt against Israeli occupation.