Israel thwarts Palestinian bomb attack

Israeli police have arrested a Palestinian woman who carried a bomb into Tel Aviv's central bus station today.

Security guards challenged the woman as she entered the station and she dropped the bag containing the bomb.

Meanwhile, a six-year-old boy was slightly wounded when Palestinians fired a mortar shell at a Jewish settlement near Gaza City. Palestinian sources said Israel fired tank shells in response.

Meanwhile, Israel is on alert for possible Palestinian suicide attacks today in advance of Muslim prayers, which frequently end in violence.

Police have banned Palestinian men under the age of 40 from attending prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which is sacred to both Jews and Muslims.

Clashes erupted at the compound containing the mosque on Sunday after Muslim worshippers threw missiles at Jewish worshippers.