Two Israelis and two Palestinians were killed in separate incidents in the Palestinian territories today in a fresh outbreak of violence five days before the Israeli election.
The deaths also occurred only a day after Palestinian leader, Mr Yasser Arafat met with an Israeli cabinet minister in a bid to quell the violence which has rocked the region for more than four months, amid warnings the situation could deteriorate.
Two Israelis, one believed to be a Jewish settler, were killed in separate drive-by shooting attacks in the West Bank while the two Palestinians, one a suspected bomber, were killed by Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli civilian Mr Lior Atias (23) was shot several times by Palestinians who opened fire near the northern West Bank town of Jenin, in a zone under Israeli security control, the army said.
Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Barak "strongly condemned" the killing, saying in a statement: "security forces will continue their war against those responsible for attacks, who will not go unpunished."
And in a similar incident several hours later a man described by Israeli radio as a settler was killed when his car came under fire near a West Bank village on the road between Hebron and Bethlehem.
This morning, Israeli soldiers shot dead Mr Saber Abu Dahr (35) who was suspected of planting a bomb along with another man near the Karni crossing point between Israel and the Gaza Strip, the army said.
And Israeli troops later killed Mr Ahmed Mohesen (22) with heavy machine gun fire near Karni, hospital officials said.
The four deaths underscored a warning by the Israeli army of a possible upsurge in violence in the region after the February 6 election, in which hard-liner Mr Ariel Sharon is expected to trounce Mr Barak.
AFP