Two Israeli policemen have been shot dead in an attack near a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

"Two policemen who were travelling in the Jordan Valley were shot dead. According to the initial investigation it is an attack," Rosenfeld told AFP.

He said the attack took place near the Jewish settlement of Massua in the northern Jordan Valley yesterday.

An anonymous caller claimed responsibility for the attack on behalf of the "Imad Mughniyeh Group" in a telephone call to AFP.