The Israeli army fired teargas today at demonstrators in the West Bank protesting at its blockade of Palestinian areas, after Palestinians called for renewed US mediation in the Middle East.
Israeli soldiers fired teargas at around 100 Palestinians and foreigners who set ablaze an empty army post near Ramallah during a protest against what they said was Israeli harassment and intimidation.
Demonstrators also tried to toppled concrete slabs serving as a checkpoint close to the West Bank city. There were no reports of injuries.
Meanwhile a Palestinian woman died of a head wound today, nine days after she was hurt in a struggle as Israeli border police raided her home, hospital sources said.
Hospital sources said Ms Nujud Ghonam (26) died of a brain hemorrage. Her death brings the number of people killed in the 15-month Palestinian uprising to 1,118, including 862 Palestinians and 233 Israelis.
After its weekly meeting, the Palestinian cabinet urged Washington to send envoy Mr Anthony Zinni back to the region, saying the leadership was ready to show what it had done to meet Washington's conditions for his return.
Mr Zinni left the region earlier this month. The US said he would return only if Palestinians took more concrete steps to end attacks by militants and if Israelis eased restrictions on Palestinians.
But the funeral of a suspected Palestinian suicide bomber killed by Israeli troops in Gaza highlighted the difficulty in meeting the US conditions.
In Gaza's Jabalya refugee camp today, hundreds of mourners shouted "Death to Sharon" as they buried the flag-wrapped body of Mr Mahmoud al-Bore'i, killed near the Palestinian-ruled area.
Islamic Jihad said al-Bore'i had ambushed Israeli forces. The Israeli army said he was preparing for a suicide attack.
Palestinian police also said today they had arrested three Islamic Jihad militants and confiscated a number of weapons in overnight operations in north Gaza.
Israel charges Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat with failing to take serious steps against groups behind attacks that have killed scores of Israelis, despite his call on December 16th for them to end strikes against Israel.
AFP and