News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Two of the murderers of two off-duty IDF soldiers were caught and told Palestinian Authority police Sunday that they killed the hikers as a result of a "business dispute," according to a report by the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency. Both claimed to have no political affiliation.

One of the terrorists who opened fire at the two soldiers and a third companion was killed instantly when the soldiers returned fire; a second one died of his wounds a short time later. Several others escaped. The third hiker, a young Israeli woman, said an SUV drove back and forth several times as they walked near the Telem Spring before approaching their group and opening fire.

Hevron security commander Samih As-Sayif was quoted Sunday by Ma'an as saying the murder was "a criminal offense, not an act of political violence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict." Earlier, added the report, the Hamas, Fatah and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations had all claimed responsibility for the attack. As-Sayif said the claims were false "attempts to curry favor with the Palestinian public and confuse the security services."