JERUSALEM Ñ A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up at a busy Jerusalem intersection, killing 14 and injuring at least 100 people.

Six children were among the victims of Thursday's attack, which took place outside a crowded pizza parlor. Ten others were reported to be in a serious condition, Middle East Newsline reported.

Israeli authorities released various casualty counts. At one point, authorities said 19 people were killed. The suicide bomber was one of the 14 killed in the attack.

The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility. The Iranian-backed Palestinian group threatened to launch additional attacks in Israel.

In Ramallah, the Palestinian Authority has blamed Israeli Prime Minister Sharon for the continuation of the violence. PA Information Minister Yasser Abbed Rabbo said the Palestinian leadership warned of such attacks.

Israel did not order an immediate response to the suicide bombing.

Sharon is scheduled to meet Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer to decide on a response.

In Washington, a White House spokesman condemned the Palestinian attack. Egypt also issued a condemnation.

Police said initial indications were that a suicide bomber detonated his explosive inside the restaurant, located at one of Jerusalem's busiest street corners. The restaurant and the streets were full of people on their lunch breaks at the time of the blast.

"I heard a loud boom, and I came out of the store and saw a woman with a baby covered with blood," Sarit Barashy told AP. She was shopping nearby. "The street was full of blood,." whe said

"The working assumption from initial findings on the scene is that it was a suicide bomber," said Ilan Franco, the deputy police commander in Jerusalem. He said the bomb was packed with nails, intended to make it more deadly.

Israeli security forces had been warning in recent days that they were expecting Palestinian militants to attempt a major attack, possibly in Jerusalem.

"We are in a war, and in a war there are regrettably cases where you cannot prevent losses," said Jerusalem's Mayor Ehud Olmert. "We will act together with the government of Israel to reach every one of those who is responsible for terror, to hit them and kill them."

In a busy market a few blocks from the restaurant, Israelis began beating up Palestinians, witnesses said.

A statement issued by Islamic Jihad in Beirut, Lebanon, and faxed to The Associated Press claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, saying it was carried out by Hussein Omar Abu Naaseh, 23.

It said the bombing was "a part of our response to the cowardly assassinations" that Israel is carrying out against Palestinians and that "more (suicide bombers) are on their way."

The radical Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad have carried out dozens of bomb attacks against Israeli targets throughout the 10 months of Mideast fighting. More than 550 people on the Palestinian side and more than 130 on the Israeli side have been killed overall.

Israel's army has carried out lethal raids against Palestinians it says were responsible for attacks against Israel, and militant Palestinian groups had vowed revenge.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank city of Nablus, a Palestinian security court imposed a death sentence on Munthir Hafnaweh for collaborating with Israeli intelligence and aiding in the killing of a Hamas militant, Mohammed Madiny, on Feb. 19.

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