Three others were killed in the attack, Israel radio reported.

The fighting continued for eight hours, the Israel radio said.

"We must do everything to make sure such a war never happens," he said on Israel radio.

"We are doing everything to allow these two efforts to complement each other," he told Israel public radio.

The Israel radio reported that the meeting had focused on stopping violence.

The incident was debated on Israel radio for much of the day.

"This might seem to be a contradiction but it isn't," he told Israel radio.

Israel Radio spoke of "dramatic developments in the peace process."

"I talked to them so they would not panic or lose consciousness," he told Israel radio.

"This is a real alarm," the civil defense authorities said on Israel radio.