Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat bears "full responsibility" for the assassination of Israel's ultra-nationalist tourism minister, Mr Rehavam Zeevi, according to Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon.
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Rehavam Zeevi in the Knesset
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The killing this morning came just 24 hours after Mr Sharon’s more moderate Foreign Minister Mr Shimon Perez said that Israel accepted the need for an independent state of Palestine but that Mr Arafat would need to reign Palestinian terrorists before discussion could take place.
Mr Rehavam Zeevi, a right-wing cabinet minister was shot dead by gunmen in Jerusalem this morning. The hardline Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) have claimed responsibility.
A statement faxed to news agency AFP in Jerusalem said the attack was to avenge the killing of PFLP leader Mr Ali Abu Mustapha on August 27th, when Israeli helicopter gunships blasted his Ramallah office with missiles. The PFLP had sworn that the assassination of Mustapha would not go unpunished.
Mr Zeevi was shot three times - once in the head and once in the neck - at the door to his hotel room at the Hyatt in Jerusalem, police said.
His resignation from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's cabinet over the withdrawal of forces from the West Bank was due to take effect later today.
Mr Zeevi, nicknamed 'Ghandi', was a senior member of the right-wing Moledet Party.
This evening, Israel banned Palestinian President Yasser Arafat from using Gaza international airport in a first step in a series of retaliatory measures. Israel's inner cabinet was due to meet this evening to discuss further retaliation for the killing of Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi at a Jerusalem hotel.
The source said the ban did not prevent Mr Arafat leaving the Gaza Strip but would make travelling more difficult for the Palestinian leader, whom Israel has blamed for Mr Zeevi's killing.
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