Bodies of 2 Israelis found in Palestinian West Bank

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- The bodies of two Israelis were found on Tuesday in an area of the West Bank under Palestinian control, Palestinian police said.

MESSAGE BOARD Mideast Peace    TIMELINES Recent acts of violence in the Middle East:  •  Bombings  •  Activist deaths    RESOURCES Key issues: U.S., Israeli and Palestinian views    RESOURCES In-Depth: Israel Election 2001

Palestinian officials said the two were apparently abducted and killed near the Palestinian town of Tulkarem, not far from the Israeli border.

The sources said the two Israelis came to Tulkarem in the company of an Israeli Arab.

The bodies of the two had been turned over to Israeli authorities, Israel Radio reported.

There was no immediate word on whether the twin killings were politically or criminally motivated, but they came as Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were reportedly making some progress toward ending the 52-year-old conflict between the two sides.

Nearly 400 people have been killed in the latest round of violence between them, which began on September 28. According to the Palestine Red Crescent, 342 of the dead were Palestinians. The Israel Defense Forces say that at least 44 were Israeli Jews and 13 were Israeli Arabs.

Marathon talks for Mideast peace
21 January, 2000
Israel considers talks proposal as Clinton steps aside
20 January, 2000
Arafat says he's ready for marathon talks with Israel
18 January, 2000
Clinton addresses open letters to Israelis, Palestinians
19 January, 2000
New U.S. administration will 'wait and see' on Mideast
18 January, 2000
Settlers' attacks the backdrop to Israeli, Palestinian meeting
16 January, 2000
Mideast peace talks resume
16 January, 2000
Killing prompts Israel to cancel meeting
15 January, 2000
Hopes fade for Mideast agreement before Clinton leaves White House
14 January, 2000
Israeli, Palestinian negotiators meet in Gaza
13 January, 2000
Fierce clashes erupt as Israeli-Palestinian talks renew
12 January, 2000

Israeli Prime Minister's Office
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Palestinian National Authority
Palestine Red Crescent Society
PLO Negotiations Affairs Deparment
Israel Defense Forces

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.