Israel linked West Bank Palestinians with the al-Qaida network for the first time today when a military court charged two youths with receiving funds from the jihad group to carry out a co-ordinated double bombing in Jerusalem.

Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon arrived home early today after cutting short a trip to India to consider his response to two Palestinian suicide bombings, as an official said options included invading Gaza or expelling Yasser Arafat.

A PALESTINIAN suicide bomber blew himself up yesterday in a Jerusalem cafe popular with police, in juring four Israelis but killing only himself, officers said.

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself into martydom in the heart of Jerusalem today, killed two others and dealt yet another grievous blow to peace hopes.