Israeli forces driving bulldozers and firing tank shells burst into a Palestinian prison in the West Bank town of Jericho today and pulled out dozens of inmates in their underwear in a raid targeting a group of prisoners linked to the killing an Israeli Cabinet minister.

Israeli forces burst into a jail today in the West Bank town of Jericho, demanding the surrender of prisoners, including the mastermind of the killing of an Israeli cabinet minister.

Israeli forces burst into a jail in the West Bank town of Jericho today, demanding the surrender of prisoners, including the mastermind of the killing of an Israeli cabinet minister.

ISRAEL put in question peacemaking moves yesterday after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would free a militant jailed over the killing of an Israeli minister.

Interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas received a warm welcome in his first public campaign rally, generating some excitement for the low-key politician’s effort to succeed Yasser Arafat.

Yasser Arafat today presented a plan for reforming his security services to visiting CIA chief George Tenet, with the Palestinian leader proposing to halve their number and tighten supervision.

Israeli troops entered another West Bank city early today as Washington announced that President George Bush would meet Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon next week in fresh efforts to bring calm to the Middle East and renew peace talks.

Two Palestinian suicide bomb attacks in 24 hours and the arrest of a Palestinian woman Israel said was preparing an attack shows Palestinians still have the will and the means to strike, Israeli officials said.

A Palestinian bomber blew himself up at a busy crossroads today in northern Israel, killing only himself.

Israel says it will only allow Yasser Arafat to attend Christmas Mass in Bethlehem if he arrests the assassins of an Israeli Cabinet minister today.