Jordanian Killer of Israelis in Hospital after Hunger Strike

A Jordanian soldier jailed for life for the murder of seven Israeli schoolgirls, who had been on a hunger strike for five days, was hospitalized Wednesday after his health deteriorated, police said.

"Ahmad Dakamseh is currently being hospitalized after his health deteriorated because he had been refusing to eat or take medicine since Friday," a statement said.

"He ended his hunger strike in hospital and is currently receiving all necessary care."

On March 10, Israeli soldiers killed Jordanian Judge Raed Zeiter in a scuffle at the Allenby Bridge border crossing, prompting Jordanian MPs to demand that Dakamseh be freed.

But the government refused, and Dakamseh began his hunger strike.

Israel, which said Zeiter had attacked the soldiers and tried to steal one of their weapons, expressed regret over the shooting but stopped short of apologizing.

In 1997, Dakamseh opened fire on a group of Israeli schoolgirls as they visited Baqura, a scenic peninsula on the Jordan River near the Israeli border.

He killed seven of the girls and wounded five more, as well as a teacher.

It was never clear what motivated Dakamseh, who was 30 at the time and a married father of three.

King Hussein cut short a visit to Europe and rushed home to condemn the attack.

He later traveled to Israel to offer his condolences to the families of the murdered schoolgirls, and Jordan also paid compensation.