Israel will not cooperate with UN mission

Israel will not cooperate with the United Nations' fact-finding mission to inspect Jenin.

The security cabinet decided the terms still haven't been met for the UN visit to the refugee camp in the West Bank town.

Palestinians claim a massacre took place there - Israel denies this, saying the army engaged in gun battles with suspected terrorists.

Earlier today Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles swept into a West Bank village near the town of Bethlehem.

The army says it's hoping to stamp out terrorist activity in Shawara.

Troops have imposed a curfew on the Palestinian-ruled village, searching houses and making a number of arrests.

The news comes as Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is thanking international leaders for their attempts to push forward the peace process in the Middle East.

His comments follow a meeting with the Romanian Foreign Minister at his Ramallah compound.

Mr Arafat will soon be able to move about freely, after a deal was struck with Israel over six Palestinian murder suspects.