ISRAEL'S Arab peace partners, Egypt and Jordan, have condemned Monday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, fearful the blast could shatter hard won advances towards Middle East peace.
Echoing these fears yesterday, several Gulf countries which have slowly been accepting links with the Jewish state also expressed regret.
But Syria, whose tortuous peace negotiations with Israel were at least temporarily blown off course by the explosion as Israel ordered its team back from scheduled talks, refrained from direct comment on the carnage.
Egypt, which first broke ranks with the Arab world when President Anwar Sadat visited Israel in November 197", said "These crimes committed against innocent civilians cannot be tolerated."
The Foreign Ministry offered condolences to the families of the 13 victims. The Foreign Minister, Mr Amr Moussa, met Israel's ambassador to Cairo, Mr David Sultan, to discuss the bombing.
Mr Sultan told reporters they discussed what steps should be taken to save the peace process from the threat of violence.
In Jordan, which signed a peace accord with Israel in October 1994, the Prime Minister, Mr AbdulKarim al Kabariti, said Amman was ready to go "beyond mere condemnation" to co-operating with Israel and other countries seeking to combat terrorism to save the region.
"I think those who are committing these crimes and barbaric acts are in fact calling and inviting for the occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and for the devastation and destruction of the Palestinian people," Mr Kabariti said.
The key piece in the jigsaw of comprehensive peace, Syria, said such a peace was the only answer to terror.
Syria's government controlled press yesterday reiterated Damascus's views that only a comprehensive peace could put an end to the region's violence and terrorism.
Kuwait denounced the bombings and said it hoped this would not derail the Arab Israel peace process, saying "Kuwait denounces such terrorist operations that aim to destabilise regional security and stability..."
But its Islamist politicians took an unsympathetic line, saying the bombing campaign was a reaction to what they called Israeli terrorism.
"I am against terrorism and the killing of innocents, but this terrorism is a reaction to Israeli terrorism," said a Shia member of parliament, Mr Adnan Abdul Samad.
Non Arab Iran struck a similar note late on Monday. Its official news agency IRNA said "Israel, the only state in the world to be created by terrorism and brutal use of force, is now tasting its own medicine. The divine retribution on those who spread corruption and injustice on the earth will be severe.
Oman and Bahrain also condemned the attack.