What drew me to my door to see if I could do something was the yells and screams of his wife. I literally thought she was being attacked. that's what it sounded like

David Hocking, hotel guest

In a climate when security surrounding Israel's government is extremely tight he had been described by cabinet colleague Reuven Rivlin as being "one of the best-protected politicians in Israel."

But when he was shot dead in a Jerusalem hotel early on Wednesday morning was seemingly unprotected, with no bodyguards present.

Habitual guest

The Hyatt hotel is in an area of East Jerusalem surrounded by Palestinian villages where a number of attacks have occurred in the past.

While parliament was in session, Zeevi apparently stayed at the Hyatt in this area seized by Israel in 1967 to underscore Israel's claim to all of the disputed city.

Zeevi is said to have rejected protection

At about 0700 (0500 GMT), having had breakfast in the hotel dining room with his wife, he made his way up to their hotel room on the eighth floor.

Outside the room he was ambushed by gunmen who shot him three times at close range, wounding him in the head and throat.

There were no bodyguards present at the time - police said Zeevi did not have a bodyguard from the Shin Bet internal security service in line with official policy to assign personal protection only to cabinet members considered at risk.

But according to some fellow ministers although as a cabinet minister Zeevi was entitled to a bodyguard he rejected protection on a point of principle and resisted suggestions that he change his hotel room from time to time.

No witnesses

There were no witnesses to the attack, although an American guest in a nearby room, David Hocking, said he heard thud "like something fell," but that he did not think anything of it.

He said that he never heard a shot fired and police are investigating whether a silencer was used.

It was only when Zeevi's wife returned to the room about ten minutes later that he was discovered lying on his back in a pool of blood in the corridor.

Mr Hocking was about to climb into the shower when he heard Mrs Zeevi's screams and rushed out of his room to investigate.

"What drew me to my door to see if I could do something was the yells and screams of his wife. I literally thought she was being attacked. That's what it sounded like," he said.

"I saw her kneeling over him and he had obviously been shot, blood was everywhere," Mr Hocking said.

Security crackdown

By now the assailants had made their escape - Mr Hocking said that he did not see anyone fleeing the scene.

His wife found him lying in a pool of blood

According to Mr Hocking it looked as though Zeevi was already dead and when he arrived at the city's Hadassah Hospital he was reported to have had no pulse and all attempts to revive him failed.

Immediately following the attack Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon held an emergency meeting with top security officials.

In the first sign of a security crackdown he is reported to have ordered a reversal on plans to ease a blockade on Palestinian areas and will implement other as yet unspecified measures.

For its part, the Palestinian Authority, which has distanced itself from the attack, has said it will do everything it can to arrest Mr Zeevi's killers.