Armed Palestinians besieged by Israeli forces in Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity were today running out of food but refusing to surrender.

Ariel Sharon was under increasing international pressure tonight to call off his West Bank siege of Yasser Arafat even as the Israeli army stepped up its campaign.

Israeli premier Ariel Sharon today offered Yasser Arafat a one way ticket into exile as Israeli forces shelled a heavily fortified Palestinian security headquarters.