Israel decided Tuesday to take only limited steps against the Hamas-led Palestinian government, whose members defended the suicide bombing Monday that killed nine people in Tel Aviv.

During a two-hour Cabinet meeting, interim Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert revoked the Israeli residency of a handful of Hamas leaders who live in East Jerusalem, but stopped short of ordering any immediate military retaliation for the bombing, the deadliest in Israel in two years.

The muted response seemed intended to further isolate the new Palestinian government, by not doing anything that might win it sympathy.

Israeli officials made it clear that they hold Hamas responsible for the bombing, even though a rival militant group, Islamic Jihad, has claimed responsibility. They warned that further attacks might lead to retaliation against members of the Palestinian government.

“Being a member of Hamas will not grant immunity to any terrorist,” said Raanan Gissin, Olmert’s spokesman.

“Those who are involved in terrorist activity can rest assured that we can reach them,” said Gissin, clearly alluding to the targeted assassinations that Israel conducts on militants. “Those who don’t stop terrorist activity, or give sanctuary to terrorists, are as guilty as those who send the terrorists.”

Hamas government officials defended the suicide bombing, which also wounded more than 50, as an act of self-defense. The comments drew widespread criticism as the Palestinian Authority is struggling to pay its bills because Israel and the international community cut off money after Hamas refused to accept Israel’s right to exist.

Hamas leaders stood by their defense Tuesday and criticized world leaders for not speaking out as strongly when Israeli attacks have killed innocent Palestinians.

Also Tuesday, Jordan accused Hamas activists of smuggling missiles and other weapons into the kingdom and said it was canceling a planned visit of the Palestinian foreign minister – the second diplomatic snub for the Hamas-led government in a week.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar’s visit to Jordan, which was planned for today, had been “put off until further notice,” a Jordanian government spokesman said.

The Jordanian spokesman, Nasser Judeh, told The Associated Press that “missiles, explosives and automatic weapons were seized in the last couple of days.” Hamas activists had managed to smuggle “such dangerous weapons into the country” and store them, he said.

On Friday, Zahar went to Cairo, but Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said he was too busy for a meeting.