Missiles Israel's response

HAIFA - Israel yesterday launched helicopter missile strikes on Gaza after a Palestinian woman suicide bomber killed 19 people, including three children, in a crowded beach restaurant in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.

Israel's missile strikes damaged a Palestinian militant's home in Gaza City and struck an electricity generator in the el-Bureij refugee camp, cutting power to much of central Gaza. No one was badly hurt.

The Israeli Army also informed Palestinian officials it would impose an indefinite curfew at dawn on the northern West Bank city of Jenin where the suicide bomber lived, Palestinian security sources said.

The suicide attack provoked an international outcry and some Israeli ministers demanded Palestinian President Arafat's removal. Palestinian leaders urged the world to stop any Israeli assault to oust him.

The attack was the first since twin bombings killed 15 people on September 10 and the first since Israel's Cabinet decided in principle on September 12 to "remove" Arafat.

Rescue workers said five members of one family were killed - children aged 1 and 3, their mother, father and grandmother.

A submarine commander, his wife and child, four Israeli Arabs and a security guard were among others killed. About 50 people were wounded.

Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ahmed Qurie, whose Government is obliged to rein in militants under the road map, urged Palestinians to "fully halt these actions that target civilians".

Israel said that was "too little and too late".

Bombing wave

October 5: 19 killed in Haifa.

September 10: 15 killed in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

August 20: 23 killed in Jerusalem.

June 12: 17 killed in Jerusalem.

May 19: 7 killed in Jerusalem.

March 6: 17 killed in Haifa.

- REUTERS