Israel briefs Western ambassadors on Syria's involvement in Tel Aviv operation

Israel alleged that it had information that points to Syria's role in the operation which took place on Friday in Tel Aviv and resulted in killing five Israelis and injuring other 50.

The Israeli foreign ministry said that the military intelligence department chairman Gen. Haroun Zeifi summoned the foreign ambassadors in Israel to brief them on what he called indicators to Syria's responsibility in supervising and planning for the operation.

These developments came after the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said that intelligence information indicated that planning for the operation was made in Damascus by leaders of the Islamic Jihad.

But Syria denied connections to the operation and announced its support for the efforts of the Palestinian President he made to achieve peace. The Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara rejected Israel's accusations for his country and has not ruled out Israeli sides involvement in this operation.

In its reply to the operation, the Israeli government took a series of measures including linking the peace process with the Palestinians and releasing the prisoners to the Palestinian authority move against the Palestinian groups.

Haroun also threatened to escalate military work against the Palestinians and the handing over of five occupied cities in the West Bank to the Palestinian authority was stopped.