Palestinian rocket attack murders two people in Israel during election

Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired a homemade rocket into southern Israel on Tuesday, killing two people as the country was voting in national elections, medical officials said.

Photo: Palestinian rocket attack murders two people in Israel during election

Palestinian rocket attack murders two people in Israel during election

The rocket landed near Nahal Oz, an agricultural community along the border with Gaza . There were no further details on the fatalities, but Israeli media said the two people were shepherds from Israel 's Bedouin Arab minority.

The attack threatened to disrupt Tuesday's election. Hawkish parties have criticized front-runner Ehud Olmert's plan to withdraw unilaterally from much of the West Bank , saying it would invite Palestinian violence.

Olmert's opponents have pointed to the frequent rocket attacks that have continued out of Gaza since Israel withdrew from the area last summer.

The army said a total of four rockets were fired into Israel on Tuesday.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, reports the AP.

D.M.