BEIJING (AFP)---European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday condemned the killing of four Israelis in the West Bank, saying "enemies of peace" were trying to derail fresh Middle East peace talks.
"I strongly condemn the terrorist attack that has killed four Israeli civilians near the city of Hebron," Ashton, who is currently in China for high-level strategic talks, said in a statement.
"With this unacceptable attack, the enemies of peace have tried to derail the Middle East peace talks. But we are determined not to let these enemies of peace have their way."
The military wing of the Islamist group Hamas claimed responsibility for the killings of the Israelis, who were shot dead near Kiryat Arba after nightfall on Tuesday.
Hamas -- which is opposed to the resumption of direct talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who will begin their meetings in Washington on Wednesday -- praised the attack.
Netanyahu said the spilling of the "blood of Israeli civilians" would notgo unpunished as he vowed to hunt the killers.
"We will find the murderers, we will punish their dispatchers," he said. "We will not let terror decide where Israelis live or the configuration of our final borders."
Ashton called on all parties to "engage with determination in the negotiations", urging all sides to exercise restraint "to make progress towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region."
The European Union is a member of the so-called Middle East diplomatic quartet, along with the United States, the United Nations and Russia.
Ashton said the EU "remains committed, along with its partners in the Quartet as well as Arab countries, to support successful negotiations, which are in the interest of Israeli and Palestinians, the peoples of the region and the international community".
US President Barack Obama will meet separately on Wednesday with Netanyahu and Abbas ahead of a dinner and the start of direct bilateral talks.