Israeli tanks bombarded Palestinian security posts in the West Bank today following the shooting of an Israeli teenager by Palestinian militants.
No injuries were reported after the attack, during which Israeli army tanks shelled positions on the line between Israeli- and Palestinian-controlled areas around the Palestinian city of Ramallah.
The Israeli attack was in reaction to the killing of teenager Ronen Landau (17) yesterday evening. Israeli police said Palestinian gunmen shot Mr Landau in the head as he drove home with his father and brother from Jerusalem to the adjacent settlement of Givat Zeev.
Israeli cabinet minister Mr Danny Naveh laid blame for such attacks on Mr Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority, saying they had no interest in stopping terror.
In Washington, US Middle East envoy Mr William Burns said before yesterday's killing that Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat must do more to rein in militants.
Appearing before a House of Representatives panel, Mr Burns said the Palestinian leadership needed to exert 100 per cent effort to bring an end to militant attacks.
An Israeli official in Jerusalem said the United States was developing options for a US-staffed force to monitor a ceasefire mapped out by CIA chief Mr George Tenet in mid-June that has yet to take hold.