Gunmen shot dead two Israelisecurity guards yesterday, close to a barrier being builtthrough a Palestinian neighbourhood near Jerusalem, Israelisecurity sources and medical services said.
The two men were privately employed guards at thecontroversial barrier which passes through the neighbourhood ofAbu Dis. They died at the site, the security sources said.
The sources said the men were securing a site where thebarrier, due to be hundreds of kilometres long, snakes into landPalestinians claim for their future state.
Israel says the barrier is being built to keep outPalestinian suicide bombers who have killed hundreds of Israelisduring a three-year-old uprising.
The two guards were driving in a car when they wereattacked, Israel radio said.
The gunman or gunmen escaped with the guards' weapons aspolice and soldiers launched a manhunt, army radio said.
Palestinian security sources said that soldiers in ten jeepsraided a Palestinian police station in the area after the attackand took over a Palestinian checkpoint there.