JERUSALEM, Oct. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian militants killed three Israelis and wounded four others in a drive-by shooting attack outside a Jewish settlement bloc in the West Bank on Sunday,Israel Radio reported.

    Israeli rescue staff said Palestinian gunmen in a speeding caropened fire at a hitchhiking station outside the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, south of Jerusalem.    

    Shortly after the Gush Etzion attack, the militants opened fireat the West Bank settlement of Eli, injuring one Israeli,according to the radio.

    The gunmen apparently escaped to the West Bank city of Bethlehem after the attacks, the radio reported.

    Meanwhile, Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, an armed offshoot of the Palestinian mainstream Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for the two shooting attacks. Enditem