The heavily-armed Egyptian immigrant who gunned down two people at the EL Al ticket counter of Los Angeles International Airport went there with a mission to kill, the FBI said.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders were today said to be upbeat about US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s Middle East policy address calling for a state of Palestine to live in peace next to Israel.

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres today raised hopes of restoring peace in the Middle East by suggesting a meeting with PLO leader Yasser Arafat was ‘‘on the horizon’’.

Israeli tanks moved into the West Bank town of Hebron from three directions early today, destroying Palestinian police posts during a fierce exchange of fire, witnesses said.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today rejected a proposal that his foreign minister meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, saying there can be no negotiations as long as sporadic violence continues.