PALESTINIAN Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie, with his back to a wall Israel has built inside the West Bank, yesterday said the barrier was destroying peace efforts and called for US intervention.

ISRAEL agreed yesterday to hand security control over the West Bank cities of Jericho and Qalqilya to Palestinians next week in what it called a step to firm up a ceasefire and advance a US-backed peace plan.

A PLANNED summit between the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers fell apart yesterday as a US-backed peace plan stalled over a Palestinian shooting attack and Israeli plans for a limited prisoner release.

ISRAELI forces backed by tanks and helicopters killed at least five Palestinians in the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip yesterday.

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.

PALESTINIANS shot dead a rabbi from a Jewish settlement in the West Bank on Thursday in what militants called the first response to an Israeli air strike that killed 15 Palestinians, including a top militant.

IN a carefully planned attack, Palestinian militants dressed as Israeli soldiers ambushed a bus near a Jewish West Bank settlement, then fired on its passengers as they scrambled to escape.

Seven people were killed and 25 injured today when Palestinians detonated a roadside bomb near an armoured bus and then sprayed automatic fire at passengers as they tried to flee, police said.

The Israeli army has said today that it intercepted a car bomb in the West Bank.

Nidal al-Mughrabi, Gaza, ISRAELI forces shot dead a Palestinian policeman and a 13-year-old boy in the Gaza Strip yesterday and two Palestinians hit by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank this week died in hospital, Palestinian officials said.

The Israeli army detained about 400 Palestinian suspects for questioning today, as CIA chief George Tenet was due to arrive for talks with leaders from both sides.

Israeli troops have entered the Palestinian city of Bethlehem for the second time in two days.

Israeli troops pulled out of the Bethlehem area early today, Palestinians said, boosting chances for a truce to end nearly 18 months of violence.

Israeli tanks pulled out of three Palestinian towns in the West Bank early today, just hours after US envoy Anthony Zinni arrived in the Middle East in an attempt to broker a ceasefire.

Israeli troops and tanks moved into a Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank town of Ramallah early today, killing at least 17 Palestinians in their largest offensive in 17 months of conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he is ready to lift the virtual house arrest of Yasser Arafat, but military strikes against Palestinian targets will go on.

Israeli helicopters fired missiles at Palestinian buildings in Nablus after two Israeli teenagers were killed in a suicide bomb attack in a nearby Jewish settlement.

A Palestinian militant was shot dead today after he breaking through an Israeli army checkpoint and knocking down a soldier, Israeli police and the army said.

Israel renewed its blockade of several Palestinian towns in the West Bank today and killed a militia leader in a gun battle.

Israel has renewed its blockade of several Palestinian-controlled cities in revenge for a number of attacks by Palestinian militants in recent days.

Israel has renewed its blockade of several West Bank cities in response to a spate of killings of Israelis by Palestinian militants this week.

Israel has delayed withdrawing from some Palestinian towns following a bomb attack on a Jewish settlement.

Israel has withdrawn its tanks and soldiers from the West Bank town of Qalqilya, which it invaded along with five other areas on October 17 following the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi.

Two people are dead and at least a dozen injured after a gunman opened fire on a bus in North Eastern Jerusalem.

Up to sixteen people have been injured after a gunman opened fire on a bus in North Eastern Jerusalem.

Gunmen opened fire on a bus today in north eastern Jerusalem, injuring 16 people, police and medical officials said.

Israeli troops are set to withdraw from areas around the West Bank city of Qalqilya today, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Sunday.

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.

Israel was ready to pull its troops out of Bethlehem today if Palestinian gunfire stops, a senior official said.

Israel said tonight it had suspended a planned withdrawal from two West Bank towns after Palestinian gunmen fired on its soldiers.

Israeli troops have entered two West Bank towns killing four palestinians in gun battles as they advanced.

Israeli tanks and bulldozers have invaded the West Bank town of Jenin for the second time in two days, destroying the remainder of a police compound they attacked yesterday.

The father of the man believed to have blown himself up outside a Tel Aviv disco, killing 19 teenagers, today said he was ‘‘proud’’ of his son’s actions.

The death toll in the Tel Aviv bombing has risen to 20, including the attacker.

Three people have been killed in an explosion at a gas station in central Israel near the border with the West Bank.

Six people have been injured in an explosion at a gas station in central Israel near the border with the West Bank.