Israel Halts Palestinian Contact

Relations Suspended After Deadly Day On West Bank Kills 3 Israelis

(AP)  Israel has suspended all contacts with the Palestinian Authority in response to a West Bank shooting that killed three Israelis, the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday.

The suspension is temporary, said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.

"In Israel, we have no desire to return to a reality of daily attacks against Israeli civilians," Regev said. "We want to send a very strong and sharp message to the Palestinians, and the temporary suspension of talks is that message."

Palestinian gunmen traveling in a speeding car opened fire at a crowded bus stop in a West Bank intersection on Sunday, killing three Israelis and wounding four others, before fleeing the scene, officials said.

Less than an hour later, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on an Israeli vehicle in another part of the West Bank, wounding one Israeli, Army Radio and police said.

Also Sunday, Israeli troops shot and killed a top Islamic Jihad militant during a shootout in the West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli officials said.

Palestinian hospital officials said Nihad Abu Ghanim, 27, died after being shot in the head, abdomen and chest. Abu Ghanim was the top Islamic Jihad militant in the northern West Bank town of Burkin near Jenin.

Israeli military officials said that Abu Ghanim was killed when Israeli troops during a routine patrol in the northern West Bank spotted an armed Palestinian. A gunfight broke out, and he was shot and killed, the officials said.