Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said today he received assurances from President George Bush that he will promote an Israel-Palestinian settlement on an ”accelerated basis.”

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said today he will demand US President George Bush provide the Palestinians with strong political and financial support during a meeting next week.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has promised to hold a national referendum on any final status agreement with Israel, and criticised Israeli pressure on him to confront militants, the Palestinian government news agency, WAFA, has reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has insisted that the Gaza Strip evacuation will take place even if a proposed delay is approved, and said he has no plans for further withdrawals from the West Bank until the Palestinians take action against armed militants.

US PRESIDENT George W Bush urged Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon yesterday to abandon plans to expand a key Jewish settlement in the West Bank.

President George Bush begins a new schedule of hands-on diplomacy with Middle East leaders today.

ISRAEL'S parliament yesterday swept aside another potential obstacle to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, overwhelmingly rejecting a proposal for holding a national referendum on the pull-out.

Israel’s parliament today swept aside another potential obstacle to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, overwhelmingly rejecting a proposal for holding a national referendum on the pullout.

ISRAEL plans to build 3,500 new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank to cement its hold on Jerusalem, government sources said yesterday, drawing Palestinian warnings that peace efforts were at risk.

Israel’s Cabinet convened today to approve a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the inclusion of two large Jewish settlements blocs on the Israeli side of the West Bank separation barrier – historic decisions likely to shape the nation’s future borders.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was heading to Washington today to seek US backing for a plan to give up the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank in exchange for keeping and expanding five large West Bank settlement blocs.

Israel’s vice premier today ruled out any chance of reaching an agreement with the Palestinians, saying Israel would have to unilaterally define its borders, dismantle some settlements and withdraw from most of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and parts of east Jerusalem.

At least two people have died after a bomb exploded at an Israeli checkpoint between Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley today.

An explosion has gone off on an Israeli bus in Jerusalem, killing at least one person.