The Israeli army today suspended a company commander who is accused of repeatedly shooting an injured 13-year-old Palestinian girl to ensure she was dead, but said the punishment was not because of that incident.

Palestinians might not get a state for many years as a result of Israel’s unilateral “disengagement” plan, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today.

ISRAELI and Palestinian commanders shook hands yesterday, bulldozers dismantled checkpoints and Palestinian traffic flowed freely in the Gaza Strip — significant steps toward ending 33 months of bloody fighting.

Israel has decided to target top Hamas leaders, including its founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, officials said today.

Israel has increased security for Cabinet ministers following Islamic militant group Hamas’s threat to target political leaders.

OPINION polls have shown Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's party ahead of its rivals heading into today's ballot, while Israeli security forces barred Palestinians from entering Israel in advance of the national elections.

ISRAELI prime minister Ariel Sharon will not let Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat return if he leaves the West Bank.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will not let Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat return if he leaves the West Bank, it was reported today.