Israel is accusing Syria and Iran of involvement in a suicide attack that wounded 20 people in Tel Aviv Thursday, less than a week before Palestinian parliamentary elections.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz is quoted as saying Israel has evidence that Iran funded the bombing and Syria planned it.
The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the bombing as an attempt to sabotage the January 25 elections.
Meanwhile, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres has proposed that Israel open peace talks with the Islamic militant group Hamas if the group renounces violence after the elections.
Hamas, which has staged dozens of suicide bombings, is expected to have a strong showing in the balloting. Tens of thousands of Hamas supporters packed rallies in Gaza Friday.
Israel says groups like Hamas are terrorist organizations not interested in peace.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.