Israeli woman shot dead

An Israeli woman was killed today in a suspected Palestinian shooting, the Israeli army said.

The attack occurred close to the Palestinian village of Bardaleh in the Jordan valley, the army spokesman’s office said.

The attackers opened fire on the woman’s car, apparently from a passing vehicle. An ambulance crew tried to save her life, but she died shortly afterward, the army said.

The killing made it less likely that the planned meeting between Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres would take place, at least in the near future.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has been urging Israel to hold the meeting in order to help the United States form a worldwide coalition, including Arab and Muslim countries, against Osama bin-Laden.

Plans were made to hold the meeting on Sunday, but Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon overruled it under pressure from right wing ministers in his cabinet.

Sharon said the meeting cannot take place while Palestinian shooting attacks continue.

The killing of the woman is expected to delay the meeting further.