Israeli forces stormed two synagogues in the Gaza Strip where hundreds of settlers had holed up, hoping to clear the last major bastions of resistance to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan to end Israel’s 38-year occupation of the Gaza Strip.

Thousands of Israeli forces began storming the main synagogue of the Jewish settlement Neve Dekalim today, one of the last bastions of resistance to the Gaza pullout.

Hundreds of Gaza pullout opponents barricaded themselves behind rolls of barbed wire in the synagogue of the hard-line Jewish settlement of Kfar Darom today, as security forces dragged screaming residents out of nearby homes and a religious school.

Israeli troops today began dragging away protestors in one of Gaza’s most hard-line settlements.

Hundreds of Gaza pullout opponents barricaded themselves behind rolls of barbed wire in the synagogue of the hard-line Jewish settlement Kfar Darom today, as security forces surrounded the building on the second day of the forcible removal of settlers.

In lightning sweeps, Israeli troops cleared out Gaza settlements one after the other, shedding tears alongside settlers.

Israel will insist on moving the Gaza-Egypt border crossing to a new location after Israel’s pullout from Gaza so Israeli inspectors can continue to check goods and people, Israel’s Security Cabinet was told today, and the emerging position appears to rule out the deployment of foreign inspectors at Gaza crossings.

Benjamin Netanyahu has assumed the mantle of leadership of opposition to Israel’s pullout from the Gaza Strip by resigning as finance minister as the Cabinet was about to vote on it – but he admitted he can’t stop the withdrawal, set to begin next week.

ISRAELI Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has resigned in protest over next week's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas wants to postpone parliamentary elections until November, hoping to recapture some of the popular support his ruling Fatah party has lost, a spokesman for the Hamas militant group said today.

Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said today that Israel would not delay its planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip beyond its new mid-August start date, disputing settler hopes that the pull-out can be indefinitely postponed.

Israel agreed in principle yesterday to evacuate a road along the Gaza-Egypt border that has been a major flashpoint of violence in recent years, Vice Premier Shimon Peres said after a Palestinian official warned that continued Israeli military patrols there would invite attacks.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas summoned militant leaders to ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip today, with his political survival depending on agreement by the armed groups to halt attacks against Israel.

Two Palestinian children were killed by what relatives said was Israeli tank fire in Gaza today.

Israeli troops killed five Palestinian militants today, including two Hamas gunmen who slipped across the fenced boundary with Gaza for a rare cross-border attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wants to dismantle seven settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with the consent of settler leaders, Israel radio reported today.

Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in operations in the Gaza Strip, as the Palestinian leadership crisis intensified, scuttling peace efforts and endangering a donors conference.

PALESTINIAN security forces arrested militiamen accused of violating a truce with Israel, the first such arrests under a US-backed peace plan, prompting a protest by gunmen, who marched in the street and fired volleys into the air.

Armed Palestinians have taken to the Gaza streets to protest against the arrest of several activists by Palestinian security forces.

ISRAELI forces razed the home of a Palestinian militant in the Gaza Strip yesterday and his stepmother was crushed to death inside after apparently not hearing warnings to leave, Palestinian security officials said.

A Jewish settler was seriously injured in a Gaza Strip shooting today, as witnesses said Israeli troops knocked down eight Palestinian homes.

Five Palestinians were killed today when Israeli soldiers swept through the West Bank town of Tulkarem.

Israeli troops killed two armed Palestinians disguised as Israeli soldiers today as they tried to infiltrate a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip. A third attacker managed to escape.

Israeli fighter jets deployed over the southern Gaza Strip, fired missiles at a building, destroying it and injuring about 10 Palestinians, witnesses and hospital officials said.

A PALESTINIAN man, on trial for allegedly collaborating with Israel, was killed by Palestinian militants yesterday after an Israeli air strike disrupted court proceedings.

Israeli helicopters attacked Palestinian police and security facilities in the Gaza Strip early today, after an Israeli soldier was killed in a mortar attack.

Israeli helicopters attacked Palestinian police and security facilities in several places in the Gaza Strip early today, according to eyewitnesses and officials on both sides.

An Israeli has been killed in a mortar attack in the Gaza Strip after Palestinians called for revenge for the death of a top militant activist.

Two Israelis have been hurt in a shooting attack on a bus in the West Bank.

Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres was today leaving for the US to discuss peace efforts after talks in Egypt and Jordan about a ceasefire plan - but renewed violence between Israel and the Palestinians cast doubt on peace prospects.

Israel eased travel restrictions on the Gaza Strip today, despite mortar attacks on Jewish settlements in Gaza and an Israeli village outside the fence.

Palestinians fired mortars at a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip and a farming village in Israel overnight, drawing Israeli return fire that seriously wounded a supporter of the Islamic militant group Hamas.

Mortar shells rained down on Israeli villages inside and outside the Gaza Strip overnight, despite two short Israeli incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas.

Israeli prime minister-elect Ariel Sharon has attempted to finalise details of a unity government with Ehud Barak.