TEL AVIV, Israel - A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up outside a fast-food restaurant in a bustling commercial area of Tel Aviv during the Passover holiday Monday, killing seven other people and wounding at least 49, police said. A security guard posted outside the restaurant, the target of a suicide bombing in January, prevented Monday’s bomber from entering the building, police said.

“We think that this operation … is a direct result of the policy of the occupation and the brutal aggression and siege committed against our people,” said Khaled Abu Helal, spokesman for the Hamas-led Interior Ministry. Earlier, Moussa abu Marzouk, a Hamas leader abroad, told Al-Jazeera television that “the Israeli side must feel what the Palestinian feels, and the Palestinian defends himself as much as he can.” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, of the rival Fatah Party, condemned the bombing, calling it a “terrorist attack.”

The major difference in rehetoric between the two Palestinian parties is quite evident and nothing new! I must say though, an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind, Mr.Abu Marzouk! not to mention my utmost disappointment and disgust with Abbas calling it a ‘terrorist attack.’ Condemn it as much as you want (and it’s something I wholeheartedly condemn) Mr.President, but don’t call your own people in struggle ‘terrorists.’