TEL AVIV, March 27: A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in a hotel in the Israeli coastal resort town of Netanya on Wednesday, killing 15 people and wounding about 80.

Witnesses in the chaotic immediate aftermath said they saw up to 12 bodies from the attack, which coincided with an Arab summit in Beirut where Saudi Arabia presented a plan for peace between the Arab world and Israel.

In a first reaction, an Israeli government spokesman laid the blame for the blast on Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, currently bottled up by Israel in his West Bank headquarters.

“Arafat is to blame for the violence that emanates from the territories under his control,” said spokesman David Baker.

“It is clear the Palestinians are bent on using everything at their disposal for killing and maiming as many Israelis as possible anywhere, anytime.”

Wednesday’s attack occurred shortly after Jews began celebrating the week-long Passover holiday at sundown and Israeli security forces had been on red alert for attacks, although synagogues had been considered the most likely target.

Israeli Channel 2 television said a man with a bag had entered the lobby of the hotel past a security guard and then detonated his load near a dining room.

“A suicide bomber walked into the lobby of the Park Hotel in Netanya and blew himself up,” a police spokesman said.

Television footage showed the lobby of the seaside hotel all but devastated. Witnesses said the blast flung debris everywhere and wires were seen hanging crazily from the ceiling.

Victims were carried away on stretchers to ambulances with red lights flashing and sirens wailing. Gun-toting policemen and soldiers milled among the stricken crowd.—Reuters