Central Command Maj. Gen. Yitzhak Eitan, and Judea and Samaria Commander Brig. Gen Benny Ganz attended the meeting on the Israeli side. Representing the Palestinians were Amin al-Hindi of the Palestinian Intelligence service, Tawfik Tirawi of the General Intelligence service and Haj Ismail Jaber of the Palestinian security forces.

West Bank Preventive Security Service chief Jibril Rajoub did

"The Palestinians at the meeting gave no commitment to stopping the violence" - IDF spokesman

not attend the session, reportedly because of the trauma he said resulted from the recent firing of tank shells at his home. Itim reported that Rajoub met separately with GSS head Avi Dichter in Jerusalem to discuss the security situation.

An Israeli Defense Ministry spokesman said that Maj. Gen. Eitan had asked the Palestinians to take steps to end the violence. "The Palestinians at the meeting gave no commitment to stopping the violence,'' the spokesman said.

Jaber said, "No progress whatsoever was achieved" at the meeting. "We could not do anything unless Israel lifts the siege and pulls its forces back to the point where they were before clashes erupted," he added.

Another round of security talks is scheduled to be held in Gaza tonight.

Palestinian shooting incidents kill three
Gilad Zar, 41, was shot dead yesterday morning at the Jitt junction east of Kedumim as he drove by in his four-wheel-drive vehicle. According to an IDF report, an ambush involving at least two gunmen shot at Zar from a distance, then approached the car and fired at least two full magazines of ammunition at close range.

Later in the day, Sarah Blaustein, 53, and Esther Alvan, 20, were killed when terrorists opened fire on their car on the Jerusalem-Gush Etzion road, just north of Neve Daniel. The two, residents of Efrat, were headed for Jerusalem to attend Zar's funeral. Blaustein's husband and son were wounded in the attack.

Details of the attackers' vehicle are apparently known to security officials. Gush Etzion area commander Col. Marcel Aviv accused the Palestinian Authority of orchestrating the attack.

Zar's funeral procession, heading from Jerusalem to his home in Itamar, was delayed for half an hour when Palestinians from Kfar Kalil opened fire on the cars, resulting in an IDF response aimed at the sources of fire.

Efrat Mayor Eitan Golan, on his way to Zar's funeral when he heard about the second shooting attack, said yesterday, "Despite the suffering of our people - and it is great - we are determined to remain here in our homes."

Others mourners called on the government to abandon its unilateral cease-fire and take immediate action against the terrorists. Many settlers called for revenge in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

Palestinians attack IDF outpost, plant bomb on highway
In an additional security incident yesterday, two Palestinian suicide bombers attempted to approach an IDF outpost in the Gaza Strip. The first detonated a belt of explosives, killing only himself. The second was killed when he threw a grenade at IDF soldiers nearby. Two soldiers were slightly injured in the attack.

Last night the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway was closed for nearly two hours as security forces detonated a large explosive device in a controlled explosion. Highway workers discovered the bomb, connected to a gas cylinder, alongside the road at the Motza turn.

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