A SUICIDE bomber blew himself up in a crowded pedestrian mall near Tel Aviv's old central bus station yesterday, and at least 20 people were wounded, police said.

The Israeli military has declared the Jewish section of the West Bank city of Hebron a closed zone, banning non-residents, after three days of riots by Israeli settlers and extremist backers against an order to evict Jewish squatters from the Arab market.

A JEWISH extremist opened fire inside a bus yesterday, killing four Israeli Arabs before being slain by an angry crowd, police said.

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.

ISRAELI troops handed the quiet West Bank town of Jericho to Palestinian security control yesterday, dismantling checkpoints and easing travel restrictions in what was seen as a message to ordinary Palestinians that an informal truce is starting to pay off.

Israeli troops patrolling the West Bank city of Nablus today shot and killed a 19-year-old Palestinian woman, witnesses and a hospital said.

Israeli helicopters attacked a Hamas training field in Gaza City, killing at least 13 militants and wounding 25 other Palestinians, witnesses said, in the bloodiest incident there in four months.

An explosion rocked the West Bank city of Nablus today, killing three members of Hamas, Palestinian security sources said.

PRIME MINISTER Ariel Sharon arrived home yesterday from Washington, facing a tough domestic battle over his "unilateral disengagement" plan despite a boost from his talks with President Bush.

Israeli troops today raided the West Bank city of Nablus, surrounding a house and exchanging fire with Palestinians, witnesses said.

ISRAELI forces briefly raided the West Bank town of Bethlehem yesterday and dynamited the home of a Palestinian who blew up a Jerusalem bus. The move was far short of a large-scale reprisal customary after a deadly suicide attack.

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.

More than 100 Palestinians were arrested today when Israeli forces swept into the West Bank city of Hebron, the Israeli army said.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell is meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to discuss the "road map" to peace in the Middle East.

Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian militant early today during a raid on his West Bank home.

The Israeli army demolished nine houses belonging to Palestinians in the West Bank city of Hebron, making dozens homeless.

Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian militant and wounded seven bystanders late last night.

ISRAELI troops traded gunfire with Palestinians yesterday and arrested 50 suspected terrorists after the army swept into the West Bank City of Nablus backed by 150 armoured vehicles in a retaliatory strike for several Palestinian attacks on Israel.

BELEAGUERED Palestinian President Yasser Arafat faced new pressure yesterday after an Israeli newspaper said the army expected him to be sidelined by his own people in six months.

The Israeli army lifted its curfew in the West Bank city of Hebron today so Palestinian students could take exams - then rounded up about 300 at a college for questioning, witnesses said.

An Israeli army bulldozer has punched a hole in the side of the Palestinian headquarters building in the West Bank city of Hebron.

Israeli tanks and soldiers have invaded the West Bank city of Nablus, knocking out the electricity supply in the east of the city.

Israeli tanks and soldiers have invaded the West Bank city of Nablus, knocking out the electricity supply in the east of the city.

Israeli troops left the West Bank city of Hebron today, ending the latest of a series of brief incursions into Palestinian territory.

Israeli troops have raided the West bank city of Jenin this morning, clashing with Palestinians.

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

Israeli soldiers have killed a Palestinian policeman and a civilian during a raid on the West Bank city of Nablus this morning, according to witnesses.

Israeli soldiers have killed a Palestinian policeman and a civilian during a raid on the West Bank city of Nablus this morning, according to witnesses.

Nine Palestinians were killed today as Israeli tanks and helicopter gunships pummelled the West Bank city of Hebron.

Israeli tanks rolled into the West Bank city of Hebron early today, just as Israel’s large-scale military operation in the West Bank appeared to be drawing to a close.

Tonight, Israeli tanks entered the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian witnesses said.

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 withdrew tanks and troops from Palestinian neighbourhoods in the volatile West Bank city of Hebron today, in a fresh attempt to breathe life into a truce negotiated under US pressure.

Israeli forces have shelled Gaza City and the West Bank city of Ramallah after a suicide bomber killed himself and two Israeli teenagers.