Palestinian lawmakers thwarted by Israelis

ISRAELI authorities yesterday barred 12 Palestinian lawmakers from travelling from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank to attend a parliamentary session discussing democratic reforms sought by Israel and the United States.

The 88-member Legislative Council, the Palestinians' nascent parliament, is convening today in the West Bank town of Ramallah in a session expected to discuss sweeping reforms of Mr Arafat's self-rule authority.

Palestinian officials accused Israel of disrupting the political process by

barring some members from travelling from Gaza to the West Bank. Mr Arafat is expected to address the assembly despite intense US and Israeli efforts to sideline him.

Ofir Haham, an official for the Israeli civil administration in the Gaza Strip, said anyone deemed a security risk would not be allowed to travel for the session, though he said the majority would be able to attend.

The council has not had a full session since violence broke out in September 2000, with Gazans prevented from attending by Israeli closures.

The council session is expected to discuss a mechanism for holding elections. A few members also want to raise the issue of electing a prime minister a step some US officials have suggested as a way to sideline Arafat but delegates are doubtful the issue will make it on the agenda.

Israel and the US are pushing for sweeping reforms in the Palestinian Authority created in 1994 as part of the so-called Oslo peace accords as a way to help end the violence that has torpedoed Mid-East peace for the past two years.

Israel has imposed a harsh crackdown in the Palestinian territories aimed at preventing militant attacks after a string of suicide bombings over the summer.

In a rare note of optimism, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said training for a new Palestinian security apparatus a key demand of Israel and the US would begin this month.