ACTING Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima Party is seeking swift coalition negotiations to carry out its plan to pull out of much of the West Bank and draw Israel's borders by 2010.

ISRAEL could eventually relinquish more West Bank settlements, beyond the four to be dismantled in coming weeks, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suggested in an interview published yesterday.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians crowded into Gaza City’s small fishing harbour today to celebrate the impending Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, waving flags and hearing promises from their leader, Mahmoud Abbas, that the West Bank and Jerusalem will be next.

Mahmoud Abbas could hardly be more different from the man he seeks to replace. Unlike Yasser Arafat, he likes to work in the shadows, shuns publicity, listens to advisers and deplores violence.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat flew to Paris for treatment of a serious illness today, breaking free from nearly three years of Israeli-imposed confinement at his battered compound, but leaving behind a people in disarray.

Israeli opposition leaders demanded today that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon step down, following media reports that the state attorney is recommending he be indicted for bribe-taking.

AN adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon urged Washington yesterday not to meddle in Israeli politics in the latest show of displeasure over planned US talks with authors of a symbolic Middle East peace pact.

ISRAELI and Palestinian activists yesterday launched an unofficial peace treaty aimed at ending one of the world’s most intractable conflicts, backed by a gathering of Nobel peace prize winners including former President Jimmy Carter.

Israeli soldiers killed two armed Palestinians during a raid in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the army said.

MAHMOUD ABBAS wears suits. Except for a well-cropped band of hair on his upper lip, he’s always clean-shaven.

Amram Mitzna, an unknown on the Israeli political stage a few months ago, was today facing the task of rallying his fractured Labour Party after winning the leadership election on a peace platform.

PALESTINIAN militants pose a “cancer-like” threat to Israel and must be defeated at all costs, Israel’s new army chief has said.

Palestinian militants pose a "cancer-like" threat to Israel and must be defeated at all costs, Israel’s new army chief has said.

Israel has said it will resume peace talks with the Palestinians.