The UN Security Council is meeting behind closed doors
this afternoon to weigh a response to a third Palestinian plea for UN protection for civilians in the West Bank and Gaza.
Palestinian Ambassador Mr Nasser Al-Kidwa requested an immediate meeting about what he termed the escalation of repressive practices against the Palestinian population by Israel, the occupying power, and its policy of premeditated assassinations.
Earlier today Israel's public security minister said the Jewish state was escalating its response to the eight-month-old Palestinian uprising and warned it might resort to all-out combat to quell the violence.
The warning comes despite signs that talks between the parties based on the draft report by negotiator Mr George Mitchell could soon be arranged.
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Referring to the recent shootings of Palestinian policemen,Public Security Minister Mr Uzi Landau said: "Well, they have been in a position that was used for many months to shoot at our soldiers and our civilians.
"And as much as this was not the aim and the purpose of our security forces to hit them personally, we were looking for others who were directly responsible for the shooting. They happen to replace them."
The head of Lebanon's parliament this morning bitterly denounced a US Congress decision to block some $35 million in aid to Lebanon unless the Beirut government deploys troops along its disputed southern border with Israel.
"I thank you for cancelling assistance to my country," parliament speaker Mr Nabih Berri said in a letter to Speaker of the House Mr Dennis Hastert.
"I had been trying to convince the Lebanese government to refuse the aid, which does not even equal the interest on military assistance to Israel. It is clear evidence of the American administration's bias against us, in peace and in war," Mr Berri said.
The US provides Israel with some $3 billion a year in aidalongside a package of about $2 billion including militaryhelp for Egypt.
Congress approved the measure, which US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell opposed, yesterday, with supporters arguing it would help cap violence between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas.