Hebron attack must not derail Middle East talks, US

Washington, 1 Sept-(ANA)-On the eve of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, the US has appealed to both sides not to let the killing of four Jewish settlers near Hebron derail the talks.

The Israelis were shot dead in the West Bank on Tuesday.

The military wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said it had carried out the "heroic operation".

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders are to meet on Thursday for the first direct talks in two years.

Ahead of the meeting in Washington, the White House condemned the killing in the "strongest possible terms," adding that all parties must "continue working to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region". (ANA)

FA/ANA/1 September 2010--------