ISRAEL VS. SYRIA

Internet Herald Tribune: Israel blames Syria for bombing

Israeli defense officials on Saturday blamed Syria and a Palestinian militant group based there for a suicide bombing that killed four Israelis outside a Tel Aviv nightclub — threatening to shatter an informal truce with the Palestinians — and Israel warned it may attack Syria in retaliation. Syria denied the charges, saying the offices of Islamic Jihad, the militant group that claimed responsibility for the suicide strike, have been closed. Israel has attacked Syrian targets in the past and will do so again if it deems necessary, a senior Israeli defense official said Sunday. Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim said an attack will ‘‘send a message to (Syrian President Bashar) Assad’’ that he must clamp down on Islamic groups based in Damascus, his capital city. Israel’s Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz blamed Syria for the suicide bombing Friday in a Tel Aviv nightclub. Four Israelis were killed and dozens of others were wounded in the bombing. But Mofaz stopped short of threatening to attack Syria.