(Oct. 17 - 09:40 AM) Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi was shot three times in the head and neck this morning by an unknown assailant. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorist organization has taken responsibility for the attack, in vengeance for Israel’s killing of PFLP head Abu Mustafa in September. Doctors at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem say that Minister Ze\'evi\'s life is in danger.There were apparently no witnesses to the shooting, which took place on the 8th floor of the Jerusalem Hyatt Hotel. He was found when Arutz-7 broadcaster Eshel Levine, who had arranged to interview him, called the Minister\'s spokeswoman to say that Ze\'evi could not be reached. When the spokeswoman, too, could not reach him, she called Mrs. Ze\'evi in the hotel dining room, who went up to their room and found him in a pool of blood. Prof. Shmuel Shapiro, director of Hadassah Hospital in Ein Karem, reports that Ze’evi has undergone a CT scan and remains in extremely critical condition in an intensive care unit. The Minister will not undergo an operation at this time.Jerusalem Police Chief Mickey Levy confirmed that the minister was not being protected by bodyguards this morning. Only the Prime Minister, Defense Minister, and one or two others are always guarded, while other government members are guarded intermittently according to intelligence recommendations. The Hyatt Hotel remains sealed at this hour - no one is permitted to enter or leave - and police are questioning the guests and workers. It is assumed that the crime was committed either by hotel workers or with their help. Public Security Minister Uzi Landau will be briefed this morning by senior police commanders about the investigation.



Opposition leader Yossi Sarid said that he fears that the region will now deteriorate into another round of bloodbaths.