Two Israeli teen-agers found dead

The bodies are removed from the cave where they were found

JERUSALEM -- Israeli officials have launched an investigation after two Israeli teen-agers, believed to have been stoned to death, were found in a West Bank cave.

CNN's Jerrold Kessel said the bodies of the two, aged 13 and 14, were found about half a kilometre away from the Jewish settlement of Tekoah on the edge of the Judean desert area.

An Israeli settlement spokesman said they appeared to have been stoned or battered to death and preliminary investigations showed they had also been knifed, with one of the bodies is believed to have been mutilated.

VIDEO Settlers want the prime minister to better protect them. CNN's Jerrold Kessel explains (May 9) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    AUDIO CNN's Jerrold Kessel: More children killed 800K/84 secs. AIFF or WAV sound Sharon blames Palestinians 990K/91 secs. AIFF or WAV sound Mitchell Report denounces Jewish settlement growth 690K/64 secs. AIFF or WAV sound    ALSO Pope urges end to Mideast violence State Department calls Israeli settlement reports 'provocative'

The bodies were discovered around dawn Wednesday after the pair went missing the day before.

Kessel said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had released a statement blaming the "heinous crime" on the Palestinian Authority for "allowing" the recent escalation of violence and accusing the Palestinian media of incitement.

Speaking on Israeli radio, Palestinian Authority Cabinet Minister Saeb Erakat said that any death, Israeli or Palestinian was to be deplored, but that the only path to peace was a return to the negotiating table.

A telephone call to Reuter News Agency, which could not be verified, linked the attack to the death of a 4-month-old Palestinian girl Monday.

Other violence on Wednesday saw two mortar rounds fired at the Jewish settlement of Nissanit in Gaza and a roadside bomb exploding as an Israeli army patrol was passing on the border between the Gaza and Egypt.

Nobody was hurt in either incident.

Tensions in the region have been escalating since a Palestinian baby, Iman Hiju, was killed by Israeli shelling on Monday. There were angry scenes at her funeral Tuesday.

Arye Orlando Agranouni, 48, an Israeli, shot while guarding orchards at the Itamar settlement in the northern West Bank, was buried the same day.

Altogether the clashes, which began in September, have claimed over 500 lives -- the majority Palestinian.

Sharon expressed regret Tuesday for the baby's death, but said responsibility ultimately belonged to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for not controlling mortar attacks coming out of Palestinian territories.

Four-month-old Iman Hiju, the youngest victim of the conflict, is buried

"Children should not be involved," Sharon said at a news conference, describing the child's death as accidental. "I am convinced the Israeli forces have no intention to hit civilians."

Israeli officials described Monday's attack in southern Gaza as retaliatory, following Palestinian attacks on Jewish settlements.

Sharon also accused the Palestinians of trying to smuggle weapons into Gaza, after the Israel Defense Forces said it intercepted a boat containing weapons off northern Israel Monday.

Erakat denied Sharon's accusations: "We don't control the Mediterranean or the shores of the Mediterranean," he said Tuesday. "Our fishermen cannot even fish in the sea of Gaza for past seven months.

"I believe that Mr. Sharon is trying to hide his crime and terror when he kills a 4-month-old baby, injuring schoolchildren and now assigning blame and finger-pointing at Arafat," Erakat added.

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