Israel launches another invasion

The Israeli army has mounted yet another invasion into the West Bank, this time entering Qalqiliya and three nearby villages to search for suspected Islamic militants.

At least 13 Palestinians were arrested during the incursion, which Israel said will continue “until the mission is completed”.

Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians said a woman was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers near the Egypt border this morning.

Israel said that a group of Palestinians had attacked soldiers in the area with gunfire, grenades and a mortar shell in a battle that lasted for hours.

Elsewhere, US President George W Bush has reiterated his call for Israel to withdraw from the West Bank, more than four weeks after the invasion began.

Mr Bush was speaking after talks in Texas with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah.

The Israeli army has established a ring of tanks around most cities in the West Bank and is still laying siege to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s shattered compound in Ramallah and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

“Israel must finish its withdrawal, including resolution of stand-offs in Ramallah and Bethlehem in a non-violent way,” Mr Bush said last night.