13 Mar 2011

Israel blames Palestinians for Jewish settler stabbings

8:15 am on 13 March 2011

Israeli troops have launched a manhunt after five members of a Jewish settler family were killed in the West Bank.

Officials have blamed Palestinians for the overnight attack, which left a couple, two children and a baby dead in the Itamar settlement near Nablus, the BBC reports.

Israeli media reports that the family members were stabbed to death by an intruder who broke into their home.

Two other children were reportedly spared, while a third had discovered the killings when she arrived home.

The incident comes as peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians have ground to a halt.