Barak steps up pressure

Barak looked tired on his visit to Israel's northern border

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has repeated his threat to abandon peace talks with the Palestinians, if the wave of violence that has so far led to more than 80 deaths goes on beyond Monday night.

In that event, he would instruct Israeli forces to - as he put it - act accordingly.

If they [our neighbours] want to make peace, the opportunity is there. If they prefer not to choose peace... we will know how to respond

Ehud Barak

Fresh violence broke out on Sunday in the Gaza Strip and West Bank where two Palestinians were reportedly shot dead by Jewish settlers. In northern Israel an Israeli was killed when Palestinians threw a stone through his car window.

A ceasefire is now in place in the Gaza Strip after meetings between Israeli, Palestinian and US officials.

Israel shut down the Palestinian airport in Gaza following an attack on a van of Israeli workers in which seven people were injured, two seriously.

Speaking at a news conference, in northern Israel near where three Israeli soldiers were kidnapped on Saturday by Lebanese-based Hezbollah militants, Mr Barak said peace would come one day.

But if Palestinian leaders failed to calm the situation in the West Bank and Gaza, Israel would conclude that Yasser Arafat had abandoned the process of negotiation.

Gaza has seen almost continous violence

Looking exhausted, Mr Barak blamed Syria, one of Hezbollah's backers, for the capture of the soldiers.

He said Syria would have to ensure there were no further attacks across the border, adding this was a moment of truth for Israel's neighbours.

One report said Palestinian police were clearing demonstrators away from a Jewish settlement at Netzarim, one of the flashpoints in the present violence.

Maximum alert

The Lebanese army was put on to maximum alert on Sunday in anticipation of an Israeli offensive.

Tension between the two neighbours has risen sharply since Hezbollah's capture of the three Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.

Anger in Beirut as Israeli warplanes flew over the funeral of 25-year-old Hassan Hasanein

Israeli warplanes flew over the capital, Beirut, their supersonic bangs punctuating the chants of mourners at the funerals of two Palestinians shot by Israeli soldiers at the Lebanese border.

For its part, Hezbollah took steps to arrange a prisoner swap - the three Israeli soldiers for an undetermined number of Arabs detained in Israel.

Reports said there were preliminary contacts with German mediators and the Red Cross

Demonstrations

There has been a massive demonstration of support for the Palestinians in the Moroccan capital, Rabat.

Tens of thousands of people marched through the main streets in an authorised protest led by left-wing parties and trades unions. They called for no concessions over Jerusalem and burnt Israeli and American flags.

But in Casablanca, about 30 people were injured when police broke up an unauthorised demonstration.

And in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, thousands of people took part in a protest organised by mainly Islamist opposition parties.

They chanted slogans calling for "no negotiations" with Israel and threw garbage at the American embassy which was protected by a police cordon.