Osama bin Laden released a new message yesterday that accused Arab leaders of sacrificing the Palestinians and called on Muslim militants in Egypt to help break the blockade of Gaza.

ACTING Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said yesterday that Israel plans to withdraw from some of the territory it holds on the West Bank.

THE more moderate line promoted by Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s new centrist party has suffered a big setback after plans for new settlement buildings were revealed.

A security panel headed by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat declared a state of emergency in the Gaza Strip early today after a wave of kidnappings that included a Palestinian police chief and four French citizens.

PALESTINIAN militants set off a huge explosion at an Israeli army outpost in the Gaza Strip yesterday, causing a concrete building to collapse.

Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire near the Erez crossing between Israel and Gaza early today, killing at least one Israeli before being shot dead.

A KIDNAPPED taxi driver freed in an Israeli commando raid was greeted with a street party yesterday and the military said his captors were not backed by major Palestinian militant groups.

Israeli soldiers destroyed the homes of two Palestinian militants in the West Bank and Gaza Strip today.

A Palestinian woman and her two-year-old daughter were shot dead today while riding in a taxi in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinians, who claimed Israeli troops were responsible.

A security guard at an Israeli nightclub has shot and killed a suspected Palestinian militant who was allegedly attempting to drive a car bomb into the building in Tel Aviv.

Under tight security, Palestinian militants exiled by Israel left Cyprus today on board two European planes for six EU nations that have agreed to offer them temporary asylum.