The Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has insisted he will not be pressurised into signing a peace treaty with the Palestinians if it threatens his country's security.

His comments were made in Washington, where Mr Netanyahu is discussing plans to end the deadlocked Middle East peace process.

He is discussing proposals for a further Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank with the American Middle East envoy, Dennis Ross.

Earlier, as clashes continued in the occupied territories, Mr Netanyahu said that it was possible that Israel could conclude a second peace treaty with the Palestinians by the year 2000.

Netanyahu (left) met US Secretary General Kofi Annan on Friday

"It is within our power by the close of the millennium to have at least one more treaty," he told a synagogue congregation in New York.

So far, Mr Netanyahu has refused US terms that would require Israel to grant autonomy to an additional 13% of the West Bank in the next three months in exchange for greater Palestinian action to curb violence.

Israel argues that a withdrawal from any more than 9% of the West Bank at this time would jeopardise its security - an argument Washington has so far rejected.

Meanwhile, two Palestinians are reported to have been injured during clashes with Israeli troops in the West Bank town of Hebron

Palestinian youths threw stones and bottles at the soldiers, who responded with rubber-coated bullets.
 

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