20 hurt in Israel cafe blast

At least 20 people were hurt in an explosion at a restaurant near the Israeli coastal town of Haifa tonight.

Israeli television said they were injured in the blast at the Wall Street Cafe.

The blast came three days after a suicide bombing at a Jerusalem pizzeria that killed 15 people, the second deadliest attack in more than 10 months of Middle East violence.

The Israeli Government responded to that attack by taking over Palestinian political offices and security buildings in and around east Jerusalem.

Militant Palestinian groups, meanwhile, have pledged to continue carrying out attacks against Israel.

A ceasefire declared two months ago has never taken hold and both sides have warned of an escalation in the violence.

Since fighting broke out last September, more than 560 people have been killed on the Palestinian side and more than 150 on the Israeli side.