Driver killed in terror ambush

An Israeli motorist was killed in a West Bank drive-by shooting today as Israeli and Palestinian officials spoke of resuming security talks after two rounds of United States mediation.

The motorist died of massive head wounds shortly after he was shot by Palestinian gunmen from a passing car near the West Bank city of Nablus, the army said.

Two Israeli settlers were shot and injured - one seriously - in another West Bank ambush on Monday night.

Jewish settlers living in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have come under repeated attack by Palestinian militants.

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres stressed yesterday that the security talks, which have been effectively stalled for months, must resume quickly to take advantage of the momentum from the visit of new United States envoy William Burns.

‘‘In our view, the meetings can start between our security officials and theirs, in order to carry out the first stage of the Mitchell report,’’ as early as Tuesday night, Peres told Israel television.

Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Shaath also said the talks could resume within days, but said they should include political as well as security issues.

He said the Palestinian side wanted the talks come up with a plan to implement international proposals on ending eight months of violence and restarting peace talks.

Israel has said it will not resume political negotiations while Palestinian violence continues. The Palestinian side has said security and political issues must be discussed as a package.

The security meetings seek to reduce the carnage, but the sides are approaching the renewed effort at cooperation with different expectations so it was not clear how in-depth the talks would be or what would be covered.

The agreement to meet came as Burns launched his second round of meetings with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in the West Bank town of Ramallah and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem.

Burns has urged Arafat to do everything possible to stop attacks on Israel and called on both sides to implement a ceasefire and the recommendations of the so-called Mitchell commission.

The commission led by former US Senator George Mitchell had called for an end to violence and for a series of confidence-building measures, including a freeze on building Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza.