A suspected Palestinian gunman posing as an Israeli soldier opened fire in a crowded bus terminal in northern Israel today, killing three Israelis and wounding 13 people, Israeli police and media said.
The shooting, in the town of Afula, occurred while a Russia-bound passenger jet from Tel Aviv, carrying up to 78 people, crashed into the Black Sea, putting Israeli officials on heightened security alert.
Information was scarce at first, but US officials said the plane may have been shot down accidentally during a Ukrainian military exercise.
Israeli authorities suspended all flights from Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion airport.
In Afula, witnesses to the shooting said security forces killed the gunman shortly after he began his rampage.
"We are talking about a terrorist who was dressed as a soldier and just started shooting in all directions," bus driver Mr Nahum Zamir told Israel Radio. He shot from an automatic weapon.
It was the latest attack to mar a fragile ceasefire agreement reached last week in talks between Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
Israeli Police Chief Shlomo Aharonishky told Israel Channel One television it was a terrorist attack. He said two Israelis were killed and at least 14 people were wounded, one critically. Israeli media said one of the wounded later died.