A meeting of international envoys due to be held in the West Bank in support of the Palestinian leadership was axed yesterday after Israel refused to admit attendees from four countries, Palestinian officials said.

THE Palestinians have secured eight Security Council “yes” votes for their UN membership bid, just one short of the nine they need, the Palestinian foreign minister said.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny today began a visit to the Middle East to witness the effects of the recent conflict between Hamas and the Israeli authorities.