The Israeli army demolished nine houses belonging to Palestinians in the West Bank city of Hebron, making dozens homeless.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is trying to arrange a meeting with US President George Bush to discuss a Mideast peace plan.

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s hawkish Likud Party appeared headed for a convincing general election victory last night.

Ariel Sharon’s hawkish Likud Party appeared set for a convincing victory in elections today, but the urgent challenges of forming a stable government amid the turmoil of the Palestinian uprising will give him little time to savour victory.

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.

Three people were killed in a Palestinian shooting attack south of the West Bank city of Hebron today, witnesses and rescue services said.

By Dan Williams, Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Likud party appears to be recovering from corruption allegations, new polls published today showed.

ISRAEL'S Labour Party yesterday said it will not join a government led

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon yesterday dismissed an appeal by Yasser Arafat for a halt to attacks on Israeli civilians, calling it a ploy to boost the chances of Mr Sharon’s challenger in January 28 elections.

Embattled Ariel Sharon has lashed out at his political rivals, accusing them of trying to unseat him with “despicable lies”.

ISRAEL’S Labour Party is offering the Palestinians parts of Jerusalem and joint administration of disputed holy sites — the most explicit programme of compromise laid out before an election by a major Israeli party.

Israel’s opposition Labour Party will offer the Palestinians parts of Jerusalem and joint administration of disputed holy sites if it wins next month’s general election.

A 16-year-old Palestinian was shot and killed today in the Gaza Strip and another one was wounded as they neared a border fence on the way home from school, witnesses and hospital officials said.

Amram Mitzna, an unknown on the Israeli political stage a few months ago, was today facing the task of rallying his fractured Labour Party after winning the leadership election on a peace platform.

ISRAEL’S Labour Party held a ballot of its members yesterday to pick a new leader.

Israel’s Labour Party members tonight chose a relative newcomer to politics, former general Amram Mitzna, as their leader to challenge Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Likud in January elections, an exit poll showed.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU was approved as Israel's foreign minister yesterday, bringing him into the Cabinet of the man he seeks to succeed as prime minister, Ariel Sharon.