The Palestinians’ ruling Fatah Party has split, with young activists forming their own group for the January parliamentary election.

Ariel Sharon will demand a crackdown on militants and Mahmoud Abbas will push for wide-ranging moves to ease the burdens of occupation when the Israeli and Palestinian leaders meet for their first summit since declaring a truce in February.

Israel’s military chief today said that Palestinian attacks on Israeli troops trying to evacuate Gaza Strip settlements this summer could cause a temporary delay in the pullout, but would not force it to be canceled.

THE US has been harshly criticised for scuppering a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel’s assassination of Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin, calling the measure “one-sided” and saying it ignored the group’s bloody record of terrorism.