Middle East: Peace talks cancelled after death of woman

Israel-Palestinian peace talks were put off again after a Jewish woman was killed in a shooting attack and Israel closed off a swathe of West Bank land.

The latest postponement comes despite US desires to put a lid on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while it concentrates on building an anti-terror coalition in response to the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell called Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres yesterday to urge him to meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the State Department said.

The militant Islamic Jihad admitted carrying out the early morning shooting at the northern end of the West Bank, in which a 28-year-old Israeli woman was killed. Islamic Jihad has long opposed any peace moves with Israel.

Israel blamed Arafat, claiming he is not enforcing the ceasefire he declared last week. ‘‘The full responsibility for this murderous attack lies with (Arafat’s) Palestinian Authority,’’ said Sharon aide Raanan Gissin.

Once again Israel called off a meeting between Arafat and Peres, aimed at a formal truce to end a year of fighting.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has demanded 48 hours without any attacks before he approves the meeting.

It was originally set for Sunday, but Sharon called it off at the last minute because of Palestinian mortar attacks in Gaza.

After boycotting Sunday’s Cabinet meeting over the cancellation, Peres reluctantly accepted the delay, but observed: ‘‘Nothing could save lives or prevent damage like this meeting.’’

The delay is expected to be for several days. Arafat is due to travel to Damascus, Syria, today - a crucial visit marking a possible thaw in two decades of frosty relations with Syria.

Palestinian officials said the meeting could take place after Arafat returns from Damascus, before the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur begins tomorrow at sundown.

Palestinians say preliminary talks produced a plan for a ceasefire, and the Peres-Arafat meeting would put it into effect. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said: ‘‘Sharon wants to sabotage the whole process.’’

Another negotiator, Ahmed Qureia, said the Palestinians offered to meet yesterday, but Israel refused.

Meanwhile, Israel made a unilateral move, declaring a strip of West Bank land along the Israeli border a closed military zone.

The strip, stretching southwards from the town of Jenin, is about 18 miles long and several miles wide in some places, the military said.

Thousands of Palestinians who live in the zone will need special passes to enter and leave, and friends and relatives will not be allowed to visit.

The Israelis say the zone is necessary to keep militant attackers out of Israel. Several suicide bombers entered Israel from Jenin.

Arafat called it ‘‘dangerous political and military escalation’’ and West Bank leader Marwan Barghouti warned the Israelis: ‘‘If you want to achieve peace and security, you have to withdraw from our land.’’