Israeli authorities closed off the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on 26 December after a suicide bomber killed four Israelis at a bus stop near Tel Aviv - the first suicide attack for nearly three months. The order to close off the Occupied Territories was given by Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz. 'Israel will take all measures that it deems essential to ensure its security, but there is an urgent need to relaunch negotiations at the highest level, for without it a dangerous political vacuum will emerge,' Israeli government spokesman Avi Pazner said. 'The present situation demonstrates clearly the danger from not having negotiations.'