The armed wing of the militant Islamic group, Hamas, has said that it was behind the killing of two Israelis in the West Bank. The group said that it had filmed them being kidnapped and executed. The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, recalled negotiators from peace talks with the Palestinians in Egypt after the bodies were found today. Israeli radio and television stations reported the victims were on business in the West Bank when they were seized and shot in the head.
Hopes for a breakthrough in Middle East peace talks suffered a set back over the status of Jerusalem. Ehud Barak said that he wanted the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem to remain under Israeli sovereignty, something the Palestinians have long declared non-negotiable. Officials from the two sides meeting in the Egyptian resort of Taba are voicing doubt about a swift peace deal, despite initial optimism. A breakthrough in the talks is seen as the only hope Mr Barak has of winning next month's prime ministerial elections.
