Israel suspends contacts with palestinians
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-17 19:30

The decisions to restrict movement in the West Bank were made at high-level consultations led by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz. They reversed a relaxing of restrictions gradually implemented since a February cease-fire.

The limitations, in place for most of the past five years of fighting, crippled the Palestinian economy and caused widespread hardships.

Israel has demanded the Palestinians dismantle militant groups if it wants to restart peace talks. "The Palestinian Authority has to move from the talking stage to the action stage," Mofaz said. "We will not be able to continue in this process if the Palestinian Authority does not start taking concrete actions against the terror groups."

In the first attack, militants racing by the Gush Etzion junction in a car opened fire at Israelis waiting at a bus stop and at others in nearby cars. Israeli rescue services said one Israeli died at the scene and two others died in the hospital. Two were young women, cousins ages 23 and 21, from a nearby settlement, and the other was a 15-year-old boy. Four Israelis were wounded.

On Monday, hundreds of settlers built a makeshift memorial at the spot by piling up stones and affixing Israeli flags. Shmuel Jeselshon, 37, from the nearby Rosh Tzurim settlement, said the Gaza withdrawal has encouraged Palestinian militants. "Under pressure, we left Lebanon. Under pressure, we left Gaza. And they (the militants) think that under pressure we will leave here. That's a mistake."

The second attack took place near the settlement of Eli in the northern area of the West Bank. Rescue services said one Israeli was seriously wounded.

Also Sunday, Israeli troops killed an Islamic Jihad militant in the northern West Bank.