'End violence' appeal for Mid-East

Jabaliya: Palestinians say it was no mortar factory

A US-led international commission has called for an "immediate and unconditional" end to months of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Mitchell proposals

Disengagement of forces on both sides

Resumption of security co-operation

Clear statements by the Palestinian Authority for an end to violence

Freeze on all settlement construction and enlargement

The commission's long-awaited report was unveiled in New York by former US Senator George Mitchell.

It does not apportion blame for the upsurge of violence, but warns that the situation will only get worse unless swift action is taken.

Specifically, it calls on the Palestinian Authority to make it clear that terrorism is unacceptable and to take steps to prevent attacks on Israelis.

The Israelis for their part, are urged to impose a total freeze on Jewish settlements in Palestinian areas - something already rejected by Israel.

Only a few hours earlier, two Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip and Israeli helicopter gunships blasted what they described as a Palestinian mortar factory.

'Incarcerate terrorists'

Many of the report's recommendations were already widely known, with the Palestinians accepting them in full.

Mitchell warned violence could get worse

Mr Mitchell said that ending the violence had to be the "principal aim" of the two sides and that a resumption of security co-operation was vital.

The Palestinians, Mr Mitchell told journalists, had to make a "100% effort to prevent terrorist operations... including immediate steps to apprehend and incarcerate terrorists operating within the Palestinian Authority's jurisdiction."

Israel's freeze on all settlement activity should "include the natural growth of existing settlements"

The report also calls on Israel's defence forces to "adopt procedures encouraging non-lethal responses to unarmed demonstrators with a view to minimising casualties".

It rejects Palestinian calls for an international observer force.

A BBC correspondent in Jerusalem says Israel is making no apology for its military strategy, saying it intends to continue striking at what it regards as terrorist targets.

The European Union earlier joined in the diplomatic pressure, with its leading security official, Javier Solana, calling for an immediate ceasefire.

He was speaking in Cairo at the start of a four-day diplomatic initiative.

'Mosque shelled'

Shortly before the report's release, Israel carried out another incursion into Palestinian-controlled territory.

Israeli tanks raided the town of Qarara in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security sources told the French news agency, AFP.

Mourners for the victim of a Palestinian suicide bombing

They shelled a mosque in the town and strafed cars with heavy machinegun fire, they added.

No casualties were reported.

The Israeli army said two Palestinians killed on Monday were attempting to plant a roadside bomb near the border fence with Israel. Palestinian officials said the men were farmers on the way to their field.

Air strike

Reporting on the earlier air strike on the Jabaliya refugee camp, the Israelis said the target was a factory which produced mortar bombs used in anti-Israeli attacks.

"The factory is one of a few facilities which make mortar bombs that are fired towards Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and towards Israel's boundaries," the statement said.

"Since the beginning of the violent events, the Palestinians fired more than 160 mortar bombs, which led to the wounding of 12 Israeli civilians and one Israeli soldier," it added.

The Palestinians, however, say the Israeli strike hit a steelworks factory, wounding four people.

BBC Jerusalem correspondent Hilary Andersson at the scene says there is no direct evidence of mortars being made there, although the place - a scene of complete devastation - was clearly used to manufacture metal parts.