Israel bars most Palestinians from crossing into Israel from the West Bank, but the border is not fenced and can be easily crossed on foot. At the time of the explosion, the mall was crowded with shoppers at midday Friday, as Israelis prepared for the Jewish Sabbath, which begins at sundown. After the explosion, police cleared people out of the mall and closed off the area. Since the bombing attacks started several months ago, some Israelis have been avoiding shopping malls and other public places regarded as potential targets for bombers. Israeli shopping malls have security guards at the entrance, who check packages and have hand-held metal detectors.
Guards also check the trunks of cars when shoppers arrive at parking lots.
Friday's blast was the first one at a shopping mall since Israeli-Palestinian fighting erupted last September. Shortly after the outbreak of the violence, Israel banned most Palestinians from entering Israel, as a security measure. The Gaza Strip has a security fence around it, making it difficult for Palestinians to leave. However, Israeli officials acknowledge that about 20,000 Palestinians cross every day from the West Bank to work in Israel, many of them illegally. More than 450 people on the Palestinian side have been killed by the violence, and nearly 80 have been killed on the Israeli side.