A Palestinian has been killed by Israeli soldiers as he tried to break into a Jewish settlement in the northern Gaza Strip.
The killing happened shortly after a shooting incident just outside the settlement in which an Israeli was wounded.
In a similar incursion in the West Bank last night, an Israeli woman was shot dead by one of two Palestinian gunmen.
The woman was sitting in a car with her husband when they were fired upon. One of the Palestinian gunmen was then killed by Israeli troops.
Residents were confined to their homes as police searched for the other militant who escaped.
Mark Sofer, an Israeli government spokesman and former Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, said the attack came as Israel was trying to move the security situation beyond its current deadlock.
In Washington, Palestinian and American officials have met to discuss proposals for reforming the Palestinian security services.
The plans are aimed at making the services more accountable and better able to prevent attacks on Israelis by Islamic militants.
Meanwhile, Pope John Paul has made an emotional appeal for peace and seemed to give his support to an international peacekeeping force for the region.
He said he was asking the international community to commit itself with greater determination to be present on the ground, offering mediation to create the conditions for a dialogue that would accelerate peace.
