The Vatican today condemned as “unacceptable” statements denying the right of Israel to exist, in an apparent reference to the Iranian president’s recent remarks.

ISRAELI troops yesterday fired missiles at the Gaza Strip and raided a West Bank town, killing two Islamic Jihad militants and arresting one of the group’s top leaders in retaliation for a suicide bombing that killed five Israelis.

A leading Islamic Jihad militant, Shadi Mohanna, was among five killed when Israeli forces fired missiles in a Gaza refugee camp after nightfall today.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today he would not meet with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas unless the Palestinian Authority takes steps to stop militants from attacking Israelis.

Israel sealed its crossings with the Gaza Strip today after a Palestinian suicide bomber killed five people.

A young Palestinian suicide bomber blew up a felafel stand in an open-air marketplace yesterday, killing five Israelis and wounding 30, putting a damper on peace prospects following Israel’s pullout from Gaza a month ago and embarrassing Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

A PALESTINIAN suicide bomber standing in line at a crowded falafel stand blew himself up yesterday in the central Israeli town of Hadera.

A suicide bomber blew himself up today next to a food stand in the central Israeli town of Hadera, wounding at least 20 people and leaving a path of destruction at an open air market, police said.

EVERY time Nisreen Hurub needs kidney dialysis, she has to take a long and painful detour to hospital around Israel's West Bank barrier.

AN Israeli gangland bombing that initially raised fears of a Palestinian suicide attack killed three people and wounded more than 19 others yesterday at a money-changer’s shop on a busy Tel Aviv street.

THE bus driver who was rammed

The bus driver who was rammed by Palestinian suicide bombers has spoken about the horrific scenes as his packed vehicle burst into flames.

A SUICIDE bomber drove his car alongside a bus in northern Israel during the afternoon rush-hour yesterday, detonated his deadly cargo and killed at least 13 people as the entire bus was engulfed in flames.

A car pulled up next to a bus and exploded in northern Israel during this afternoon’s rush hour, killing at least seven people and wounding more than 30 as the entire bus was set ablaze.

An explosion on a bus in northern Israel has left at least 20 people injured.

The Israeli army is searching for a Palestinian teenager they fear has been recruited to carry out a suicide attack.

POLICE detonated a 1,300 pound car bomb yesterday, one of the largest ever discovered, and Israel’s foreign minister said it averted a catastrophe that could have changed the face of the Middle East.

Israeli police today said they had discovered a huge car bomb brought into the north of the country from the West Bank.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed a possible interim Palestinian state and other peace ideas with Arab leaders in Washington as US officials cautiously welcomed a promise by the Palestinians’ new security chief to curb attacks on Israelis.

Israeli police have shot dead a Palestinian gunman.

An unofficial wing from the Palestinian Fatah movement has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing which killed four people on a bus in Israel yesterday.

Israel has pulled its soldiers and tanks from two of the six Palestinian-controlled towns it invaded in retaliation for the assassination of Tourism Minister Rahavam Zeevi earlier this month.

Israeli forces began redeploying from two West Bank towns tonight, hours after Palestinian gunmen raked a bus stop in northern Israel with automatic gunfire, killing four people, a Government official said.

Palestinian gunmen killed five Israelis in two shooting attacks in the north today, throwing into question Israel’s planned withdrawal from areas in two West Bank towns it occupied to prevent attacks.

Palestinian militants driving through a northern Israeli town opened fire on people waiting at a bus stop today, killing three people.

A gunman opened fire on the main street of Hadera, in northern Israel, wounding at least 10 people, police and rescue officials said.

Four Palestinians died in back-to-back suicide attacks on Israeli targets today.

A suspected car bomb has exploded near the main bus station in the central Israeli town of Hadera.

An suspected car bomb exploded near the main bus station in the central Israeli town of Hadera today, Israeli radio reported.