Israeli forces thrust deep into the West Bank city of Nablus today in a raid on Palestinian militants, just hours after the United States said it was planning a Middle East peace conference.
US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell said Washington was preparing for a conference this summer following the end of a Israeli siege on Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat’s compound in Ramallah.
It was later announced that US President Bush will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Mr at the White House Ariel Sharon on Tuesday, May 7th.
A Palestinian policeman, a Hamas militant and an Israeli army officer were killed in Nablus after soldiers stormed the hideout of a group of militants suspected of preparing a suicide bombing in Israel.
Mr Powell said preparations were under way for a summer peace conference after meeting UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan, Russian Foreign Minister Mr Igor Ivanov and two European Union leaders.
Meanwhile Mr Arafat said after his release that he still regarded Mr Sharon as a partner for peace.
On the second day after his release from confinement, Mr Arafat attended morning prayers in the West Bank city of Ramallah as workers began cleaning the wreckage of cars crushed by Israeli tanks and repairing damaged roads and buildings.
The siege continued at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where about 30 Palestinian gunmen have been holed up with priests and civilians since they took refuge inside as Israeli troops entered the West Bank town on April 2.
Eleven peace activists slipped into the church with food yesterday and vowed to stay in solidarity with those inside.