Terror victim evacuated in Jerusalem
Terror victim evacuated in JerusalemIsrael news photo: Flash 90

The Hizbullah and Islamic Jihad terrorist groups praised Wednesday’s deadly terror bomb attack in Jerusalem, while Palestinian Authority leaders condemned it and Hamas said it was a "natural response to Israeli crimes."

No terrorist group has taken responsibility for the bomb blast, but the Islamic Jihad, which denied it was involved despite having threatened to attack 'everywhere in Israel,' said the terrorist organization “applauds all efforts to respond to the crimes committed daily against our people."

Hizbullah also lauded the attack, which killed one woman in her 60s and wounded 50 others, two of them seriously.

PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad condemned the attack “in the strongest terms,” irrespective of who was behind it. He suggested that the terrorist who detonated the bomb may not have been a Palestinian Arab. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, travelling in Russia, also denounced it.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates called it a "horrific terrorist attack, but I don't think I would characterize the situation there as deteriorating.” He made the comment during a visit to Cairo.

President Barack Obama expressed his condolences to Arabs, including at least four terrorists, killed in IDF’s retaliation on Tuesday for massive mortar and rocket attacks on southern Israel. He also reacted to Wednesday’s bombing in Jerusalem, stating, "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the bombing in Jerusalem today, as well as the rockets and mortars fired from Gaza in recent days.

"Together with the American people, I offer my deepest condolences for those injured or killed. There is never any possible justification for terrorism."