Israelis on high alert for independence day

Israeli forces have rolled into a West Bank town and four villages near Jerusalem, imposing curfews.

Palestinians have condemned the new invasions which Israel says are part of a high security alert for the country's Independence Day.

Forces have entered a Palestinian village inside Jerusalem's expanded city limits, declared a curfew and ordered residents out of their houses.

Israeli Radio says suspected militants in the village of Issawiyah were arrested, but the Israeli military had no comment.

In Bethlehem, heavy gunfire has been heard near the Church of the Nativity, with flares and gray smoke visible over the compound.

The army confirmed sporadic gunfire exchanges around the compound, but said its forces had not entered.

The US has called for a full and immediate end to the Israeli military campaign, which Israel says is aimed at dismantling Palestinian militias behind deadly attacks on civilians.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has agreed his forces will leave the cities of Jenin and Nablus - sites of the worst fighting - but has vowed to keep troops in Ramallah and biblical Bethlehem, until wanted men holed up there surrender.

Mr Sharon, who has been pressing for a peace summit including heads of Arab nations, said yesterday he expected the US to call such a summit for June and appeared to drop his opposition to involving Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Israel said arrest sweeps yesterday in the West Bank captured several members of the Hamas militant group.