Israel took a giant step towards expelling Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, but then delayed carrying out its decision, in the wake of stiff opposition from the United States.

Israeli forces shot dead five Palestinians in three separate confrontations and another was killed when a public telephone exploded in his hand.

ISRAELI forces shot dead five Palestinians in three separate confrontations yesterday, including two men who crossed into the southern Israeli desert from Egypt, the army said.

US PRESIDENT George W Bush mourned the deaths of five Americans in a Jerusalem bombing as he met yesterday with King Abdullah of Jordan on how to move the Mideast peace process forward.