Israeli army raided the West Bank early Tuesday and arrested 23 Palestinians, including the father of Sami Hamad, who carried out Monday's Tel Aviv suicide bombing, Palestinian security sources reported.

Palestinian witnesses said that Israeli soldiers raided the attacker's village Araqah, west of the West Bank city of Jenin, and took away Sami Hamad' father from his home.

Sami Hamad, 20, an Islamic Jihad (Holy War) militant, blew himself up near the crowded old central bus station in southern Tel Aviv on Monday, killing nine Israelis and wounding dozens of others.

Meanwhile, Israel Radio confirmed Tuesday that Israeli soldiers arrested 23 wanted Palestinians throughout the West Bank overnight. Israel declared a state of emergency and put police and army on high alert following Monday's deadly suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert decided on Tuesday to refrain from a major military action against the Hamas-led Palestinian government which was held responsible for the attack, Israeli Ha'aretz daily reported.

However, the Israeli army will tighten travel restrictions between the Palestinian cities in the West Bank and continue targeted killings against the armed factions' activists and commanders, according to the Israeli army sources.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2006)