Lebanon’s former prime minister, the late Rafic Hariri, was named today as the 2005 Tipperary International Peace Award winner.

US diplomats met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and newly-elected Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas yesterday to present them with an internationally backed Mideast peace plan that envisions Palestinian statehood within three years.

The UN’s top envoy for the Middle East told the Security Council that for the first time since violence broke out in September 2000, Israelis and Palestinians are moving in the direction of peace talks.

Israel completed its pullback from the West Bank town of Jenin today with forces redeploying on the outskirts of the town, Israel radio reported.

Israelis and Palestinians were today waiting to see if eight months of violence would wind down after prime minister Ariel Sharon called for a ceasefire - but rejected a plea to halt building work on West Bank Jewish settlements.