Israeli troops raided the West Bank city of Nablus today, arresting a Hamas leader, Palestinian witnesses said.

Despite US pressure to enable Yasser Arafat to join this week’s crucial Arab summit, Israel will not lift the travel ban on the Palestinian leader unless he takes decisive steps against militants, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was to meet key Cabinet ministers today to decide whether to allow Yasser Arafat to attend this week’s crucial Arab summit in Beirut.

Israeli soldiers have killed at least six Palestinians in separate incidents across the occupied Palestinian territories today.

Senior Israeli Cabinet ministers and security officials today ordered increased military pressure on the Palestinians after a weekend burst of violence in which four Palestinian attacks claimed 21 Israeli lives and 12 Palestinians died.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders were today said to be upbeat about US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s Middle East policy address calling for a state of Palestine to live in peace next to Israel.

Violence has continued in the southern Gaza Strip despite the latest ceasefire.