Washington DC, Aug. 31 - ATFP strongly deplores the attack near Hebron in which four Israelis were killed. Such terrorist attacks are morally repugnant and should be vigorously combated and condemned.

ATFP urges the parties to cooperate in identifying and punishing the perpetrators and planners of this crime. ATFP also calls upon the parties to thwart the objectives of the terrorists through renewing their commitment to a negotiated two-state solution that will put a permanent end to the conflict.

In reaction to the attack, ATFP President Dr Ziad Asali said, "This attack is not only a breach of the basic standards of humanity, it is also a political act aimed at sabotaging the negotiations. Those who were behind it aim at feeding the conflict, and at harming Palestinian as well as Israeli national interests. As the parties work together to bring the murderers to justice, the best response to this attack would be to redouble the effort to reach permanent peace through the negotiations that will be launched this week."