Palestinian gunmen killed a Jewish settler in the West Bank today, a day after a four-month-old Palestinian baby killed by Israeli gunfire became the youngest victim of more than seven months of violence.
Hours after the settler was shot and stabbed to death, Palestinian police said Israeli forces and bulldozers had entered 150 metres into a Palestinian area near Netzarim settlement in the Gaza Strip and destroyed a water well.
The United States criticised such incursions yesterday and the new bloodshed prompted former US senator George Mitchell, head of a commission that investigated the violence, to urge Washington to keep up the search for Middle East peace.
"I don't think there can be peace in the Middle East without an active role by the United States, and I think the administration is acting on that premise as well," the former US senator said in a US television interview.
Each of the warring sides accuses the other of increasing the violence that has killed 408 Palestinians, 77 Israelis and 13 Israeli Arabs since the Palestinians began an uprising against Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The Jewish settler, Arye Orlando, was killed while guarding empty caravans near the settlement of Itamar, a spokeswoman said. Israeli media reports said he was in his 40s.
The killing early today followed the death of four-month-old Iman Hejjo yesterday. Doctors said the infant was in her home when it was hit during an Israeli attack on Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza and that she was killed by shrapnel.
Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon expressed sorrow over the child's death, saying security forces had been told to be careful not to hurt civilians. He said the Israeli gunfire followed a mortar bomb attack in the same area.