Sharon vows harsh response to attacks

After the murder, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian militants in the territory, in violence that underlined the security problems in the countdown to Israel's historic pullout of troops and settlers from Gaza next month.

The attacks cast a shadow over a visit to the Middle East by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who spoke of progress between the two sides over the withdrawal.

The Israeli husband and wife were shot dead overnight when Palestinian gunmen raked a convoy of cars carrying civilian visitors to the Jewish settlements in Gaza that are to be dismantled, military sources said.

Another five Israelis, including one soldier in a serious condition, were wounded in the attack near the main border crossing between Gaza and Israel.

Sharon told a weekly cabinet meeting that Israel would not tolerate militant violence and that he had spelt out his position during talks with Rice at the weekend.

"I explained to the secretary of state that there would responses of a another type that will amount to very harsh measures, both during the withdrawal and after the evacuation from Gaza if there are terrorist attacks," he said.

"Israel will not put up with terrorism. I told the American secretary of state that instructions have been given and the Israeli army will respond with toughness against terrorism," he added.

Last week, Israeli authorities threatened a wide-scale ground offensive into the Gaza Strip unless the Palestinian Authority brought an end to militant rocket attacks.