Israeli aircraft blasted suspected Palestinian weapons facilities and other militant targets throughout the Gaza Strip early today, at the launch of what the military said would be a “prolonged” offensive against Hamas militants for bombarding Israeli towns with rockets.

Mark Lavie, Jerusalem

The Palestinians will deploy security forces along the Gaza-Israel frontier in coming days to prevent rocket fire and other attacks on Israeli towns, in the first act of security co-operation with Israel under Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, officials said today.

YASSER ARAFAT and leaders of his Fatah movement met yesterday to choose ministers in the new Palestinian government, and he reported progress in truce talks with Islamic militant groups.

THE Taoiseach yesterday predicted numerous difficulties would arise in the negotiations on finalising the new European Union Treaty.

Yasser Arafat remained defiant in his West Bank headquarters today as the Israeli security Cabinet debated expelling him, with one minister suggesting he should be killed.

Israeli helicopters and planes pounded Palestinian buildings for the second straight day after Israel cut off contacts with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in response to Islamic militant attacks.