The Israeli army has closed off a crossing point between Israel and the Gaza Strip that has been one of the main flashpoints of the recent violence. An army spokesman said that the Karni crossing was closed following an armed attack on a bus travelling to a nearby Jewish settlement. In another incident, Israeli troops at the scene shot dead a 14-year-old Palestinian boy.
While in Jordan, an Israeli diplomat has been shot and wounded in the capital, Amman. The man, a vice-consul, was injured when gunmen opened fire on the car in which he was travelling, close to the Israeli embassy. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak called the attack a serious event. Two militant groups have claimed responsibility for the attack. Anti-Israeli feelings have strengthened in Jordan during the past seven weeks of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
