Clashes shatter West Bank truce

Protesters returned to the West Bank's streets in force

Four Palestinians have been killed in continuing clashes in the West Bank and Gaza strip on Tuesday, taking the death toll from six days of violence to at least 55.

Soldiers, backed by helicopter gunships, fought hundreds of Palestinians near the Jewish settlement of Netzarim in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli tanks and helicopters also shelled Palestinian security forces in the town of Rafah in the Gaza strip, and further fighting was reported in the West Bank.

The clashes shattered a fragile ceasefire, and undermined hopes that talks in Paris and Egypt between the Palestinian and Israeli leadership can bring an end to the fighting.

Almost all of the 55 people killed are Palestinians, but at least 9 are from Israel's Arab community. Another 1,000 people have been injured since the violence started on Thursday.

Isolated shooting incidents took place in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin and Nablus on Tuesday, where gunman fired at the isolated Jewish enclave of Joseph's Tomb.

The renewed violence, the most serious for at least four years, comes only hours after the withdrawal by Israeli troops from some sensitive areas in an effort to reduce tension.

Pullback

At the start of the day, Israel had pulled back heavy weapons and armour from some key flashpoints, including the Ayosh junction at the entrance of the Palestinian-ruled city of Ramallah.

The Israeli commander at Ayosh junction said he was pulling his troops back a few hundred metres "to avoid friction and to try not to go again into battle".

However, on Tuesday evening, Israeli forces were reportedly unloading tanks from transporters in Bethlehem in the West Bank.

Spiral of violence

Thursday

Ariel Sharon tours Jerusalem holy site

Friday

6 Palestinians die in Jerusalem.

Saturday

Unrest spreads, 16 Palestinians killed

Sunday

Israeli Arab towns join protest
11 dead, including Israeli soldier

Monday

13 dead as violence continues

Tuesday

4 killed in clashes in Gaza

"It is happening all around the West Bank, all my colleagues in the [Israeli Defence Forces] are doing the same", Colonel Gal Hirsch said.

Voice of Palestine radio also reported that no military posts had been vacated in Gaza and a military helicopter had been circling the area since the morning.

The violence began after right-wing Israeli politician Ariel Sharon visited the holy complex in Jerusalem known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount.

In Jenin, a 57-year-old woman died from tear gas inhalation suffered during Friday's clashes after prayers at the complex.

Peace bids

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat are due in Paris on Wednesday for a US-convened meeting aimed at ending the violence.

One of the wounded Palestinians at Joseph's tomb in Nablus

"They are both very pleased and eager to come," said US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. "We are going to try to defuse this."

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has also offered to mediate, with further talks between Mr Arafat and Mr Barak scheduled to take place in the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Sheikh on Thursday.

The UN Security Council met for five hours on Monday night at the request of the Palestinians, but was unable to agree on a statement on the violence.

Reports said the meeting ended in disagreement after the US refused to allow Israel to be condemned for using excessive force.