Israel has proposed withdrawing troops from some Palestinian areas in the West Bank as a test case to see if Palestinian security can prevent attacks, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said today.

Israeli tanks have entered Palestinian-controlled territory in the West Bank.

A new ceasefire has been agreed in the Middle East between the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres in Gaza.

Yasser Arafat called off what would have been his first visit to Syria in eight years today, after getting a last-minute request from Damascus to stay away.

An Israeli motorist was killed in a West Bank drive-by shooting today as Israeli and Palestinian officials spoke of resuming security talks after two rounds of United States mediation.