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Israelis Among Dead, Wounded in Turkish Bombing

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- Turkey's interior minister identified the suicide bomber who killed four foreign tourists in Istanbul, including three Israelis and an Iranian national, as a militant with links to the Islamic State group.

Minister Efkan Ala said the bomber was Turkish citizen Mehmet Ozturk. He said Ozturk wasn't on any list of wanted suspects and five other people were detained as part of the investigation.

Security is high as Turkish authorities postpone a high-profile soccer match between two major teams, citing an unspecified threat.

The bomber blew himself up along a popular pedestrian avenue lined with international stores and foreign consulates.

Ten Israelis were wounded in the attack, which took place near a group of Israeli tourists – though Israel says it doesn’t appear they were the target.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent condolences to the families of the murdered and wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded.

Israel dispatched an Air Force plane on Sunday to return the bodies of the dead and the remaining wounded. Five of the lightly wounded returned earlier on special Israeli medical flights.

"Terrorism sows death around the world. Israel is at the forefront of the fight against global terrorism. This struggle is first of all military, but no less is it a moral struggle," Netanyahu told cabinet members on Sunday.

"The key to the moral fight against terrorism is to make it clear that terrorism, the murder of innocents, has no justification anywhere – not in Istanbul or the Ivory Coast or Jerusalem. Whoever does not condemn terrorism, supports terrorism," Netanyahu said.

The U.S. and European countries had warned citizens to maintain vigilance ahead of the Kurdish holiday of Nowruz this weekend, which has turned violent there in the past. Israelis have been warned against unnecessary travel to Turkey since 2014.

It's the fourth suicide bombing in Turkey since the beginning of the year. No group has taken responsibility yet, but Turkish reports are pointing to a terrorist from ISIS.

Relations between Israel and Ankara have been rocky since the 2010 Israeli raid on the Turkish Mavi Marmara ship that was trying to break the blockade on Gaza. Israel had offered to transport goods on the ship to Gaza but the ship refused and moved to run the security blockade.

One member of the Turkish AK party tweeted after the attack that she wished the wounded Israelis would die. Reports indicated that Irem Aktas was removed from her position.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who has been a sharp critic of Israel, condemned the attack and sent condolences to the Israeli people.

Israeli Consul General Dore Gold reportedly cut short a trip to Washington to head to Turkey. Some speculate that the attack could be a catalyst for restoring the relations completely between the two countries.

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