Jordan Valley Shooting Leaving 2 Dead - Fatah Says Responsible

Two Israeli policemen were killed Sunday evening near Moshav Massua in the Jordan Valley region near the Gilboa area. According to Ma'ariv-NRG, the two are policemen whose squad car overturned after it was fired at. Both had reportedly been shot in the head.

Channel 1 says that the car was ambushed from very close range and carried an initial report that Fatah-Tanzim, which is headed by Mahmoud Abbas, had taken responsibility for the attack. Another report said that an unknown group named the "Imad Mughnieh Squads" took responsibility for the murders which it said were committed "in response to the crimes of occupation against the Palestinian people."

Magen David Adom Director Eli Bin told Channel 1 television Sunday night that a rescue helicopter was initially told not to approach the scene of the shooting because of concern over a possible firefight with terrorists.

Rescue forces have reached the scene. These include police cars, ambulances, military medical forces. ZAKA volunteers have also ben summoned to the spot.

Residents of the area were instructed to remain in their homes, because the shooters are still at large. Investigators have still not ruled out the possibility of a criminal motivation for the attack, although this seems unlikely.

There has been speculation that the attack was timed to coincide with the efforts to reach a deal with Hamas for the release of hundreds of terrorists in return for abducted soldier Gilad Shalit.