The West Bank town of Jericho and surrounding areas will be transferred to the control of Palestinians within the next few days – possibly as early as this evening – to be followed by the town of Tulkarem, a senior Israeli Defence Ministry official said today.

Israel will transfer security control over several West Bank towns to the Palestinians in coming days, Israel’s defence minister said today, hours after he met with a Palestinian negotiator to work out the details of Israel’s troop redeployment.

Palestinian and Israeli officials today expressed widely different expectations for an upcoming summit between their leaders, reflecting the sharp differences that remain as the two sides try to end four years of hostilities and resume peace talks.

Palestinian gunmen took up positions and Israeli tanks massed along the border with the Gaza Strip today as Israel pushed ahead with a massive military operation in the strip’s largest refugee camp.

Israel is considering building thousands more homes in West Bank settlements, in line with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan to keep large chunks of the territory while giving up the Gaza Strip, security officials said today.

Israel will step up military operations in the Gaza Strip, including a more intensive air campaign and the possible demolition of hundreds of Palestinian homes, in response to recent fighting in the area, Israeli officials said today.

The expected handover of two West Bank towns to Palestinian control has been postponed after the two sides failed to agree on the transfer of security control.

ISRAEL joined pressure on Syria yesterday, demanding it get Hizbollah guerrillas out of Lebanon and accusing it of supporting terrorism.

Israelis were tonight told to acquire all the equipment they need to protect themselves in case of an Iraqi attack.

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's scandal-ridden campaign for re-election showed signs of recovery in opinion polls published yesterday following a weekend surge in Middle East violence.

Israel and the US have struck a deal to develop a missile defence system for airliners, according to reports.

Israeli forces have captured two armed Palestinians approaching a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip.