Palestinians kill two Israelis on Jewish new year

JERUSALEM - Palestinian militants killed a settler and a two-month-old baby girl in an attack on a Jewish settlement in the West Bank on Friday as Israelis celebrated the Jewish New Year.

One of the attackers was shot dead in the attack, launched as Israelis were sitting down to traditional family meals marking Rosh Hashanah, or New Year. It was sure to anger Israelis and could provoke a tough military response.

"We have two dead people, a 28-year-old man and a baby girl of two months," an emergency medical worker said by telephone from the Negohot settlement near the West Bank city of Hebron.

He said at least two other Israelis had been hurt and one of the attackers was still on the run after infiltrating the settlement.

Israeli police had been on high alert for attacks as Israelis marked Rosh Hashanah, which began at sunset on Friday and lasts until sunset on Sunday.

Palestinians regard Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as major obstacles to peace and have regularly attacked them since the start of a Palestinian uprising for statehood in September 2000.

The international community regards the settlements as illegal under international law. Israel disputes this.

The United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations said after a meeting in New York earlier on Friday that Israel must stop building settlements. It urged the Palestinian Authority to crack down on militants who carry out attacks.

Israeli and Palestinian officials declined direct comment on the statement but said it was up to the other side to take steps to open the way to peace, reiterating positions which the mediators say have helped stall their "road map" peace plan.

"The first thing that must be done for progress to be made on the road map is that the Palestinians must stop terrorism and incitement," a senior Israeli government source said.

"Then there will be no need for the actions we take in self-defence. We only respond to the activities they undertake."

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the "Quartet" of international mediators must ensure "both parties carry out their obligations in parallel".

Speaking shortly before the Quartet's statement, a senior adviser to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said the impasse was Israel's fault.

"The aim of the Israeli government is to waste time and avoid implementing the road map, which is going to harm the interests of everybody, including the United States," the aide, Nabil Abu Rdainah, said in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

US Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the time had come for "bold steps." The Quartet said the Palestinians should form a strong government willing and able to stop attacks by militants.

It demanded an end to Israeli "settlement activity", criticised a security barrier Israel is building in the West Bank and appealed to Israel to minimise civilian casualties.

Israel says the barrier, a fence, is intended to keep out suicide bombers. Palestinians call it a new Berlin Wall that grabs land which they want in their future state.

- REUTERS