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Israel to Respond to Violent Acts: FM
Israel would respond to a drive- by killing of an Israeli early Monday and an overnight shelling of southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said.
"We view these two incidents with great gravity," Peres said in Jerusalem.
Israel would "take necessary steps in order that this will not happen again," he told reporters. But he did not specify what measures Israel will adopt.
"We are not pressing for any escalation, but of course, we cannot remain without a response," he added.
"We are appealing to the Palestinian leadership, to other leaders as well, to the entire region and to Europe, to make sure that all measures will be taken to prevent deterioration that is unnecessary," he said.
Peres said that he would be in contact with Palestinian leaders
in the day.
The Israeli killed early Monday in the shooting incident was identified as Baruch Cohen, 58, who was the father of six, from the settlement of Efrat.
Cohen was mortally wounded in a hail of bullets fired from a passing vehicle near the Gush Etzon settlement south of Bethlehem. He then lost control of the car, crashing into a truck.
In another development, hundreds of Palestinian women carrying Palestinian flags and banners held in a peace march against the Israeli closure on Monday in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
The marchers clashed with Israeli troops when they reached an army checkpoint on the road to Jerusalem.
Israeli soldiers threw grenades at the marchers and injured Palestine Legislative Council member Hanan Ashrawi. Ashrawi was wounded in the leg and treated at the scene by her bodyguards.
Three other Palestinian women were also injured in the clashes.
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