Second Israeli killed in West Bank shootings

Two Israeli motorists have now been killed by Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank today as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said an official cooling-off period to precede peace talks would not start until such attacks end.

The two Israelis were killed in separate shooting attacks in different parts of the West Bank.

After nightfall, Palestinians fired at a car near the settlement of Einav, close to the line between the West Bank and Israel. He died later in a hospital, the military said.

Earlier, an Israeli driver was shot and killed near Nablus.

In Gaza, a 16-year-old Palestinian wounded in a Sunday clash died in a Khan Younis hospital, doctors said.

Despite the shootings and other violence, Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs were meeting in efforts to preserve a United States-sponsored ceasefire plan.

Israeli officials said they would complain about dozens of Palestinian attacks since the ceasefire went into effect last Wednesday.

In Amman, Jordan, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat accused Israel of breaking all its international commitments and violating the ceasefire deal.

Israeli forces continued to demolish houses, attack Palestinian areas and maintain blockades of Gaza and West Bank territories, he said.

The plan negotiated last week by CIA director George Tenet calls for an immediate end to violence.

Israeli forces are to pull back from the edges of Palestinian areas and end travel bans. Israel has taken some steps, but the Palestinians say most roadblocks and restrictions are still in place.

In Gaza today, Israeli soldiers withdrew from two Palestinian buildings which they seized at the sensitive Netzarim junction eight months ago, Palestinian security officials said.

Though he was critical of the Palestinians, Sharon fended off calls from his own nationalist camp to hit back militarily for the attacks.

‘‘I am not willing to accept calls ... saying I have to take this nation to war,’’ Sharon said, aiming his remarks at settlers from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip who have been on the front lines of the fighting and have held signs reading ‘‘war now’’ at demonstrations.

The truce plan gives the two sides a week to carry out their basic commitments before the cooling-off period goes into effect.

Sharon warned today: ‘‘As long as there is no total ceasefire, the counting of the cooling-off period will not begin.’’