ISRAELI security officials yesterday said the army would ease its West Bank blockade to bolster Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie in a power struggle with Yasser Arafat delaying US-backed peace moves.

PRESIDENT Yasser Arafat extended the term of a Palestinian emergency government yesterday in a sign he expected a power struggle with his prime minister to delay creation of a new cabinet.

ISRAEL'S security cabinet agreed in principle on Thursday to exile Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, but not immediately, sources close to the government said.