Israel's new leader Mr Ariel Sharon told the United Nations today not to send an observer force to protect Palestinians saying it could foment more violence. Meanwhile in the Gaza Strip Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian security officer.
Mr Sharon, in his first meeting with UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan since becoming prime minister two weeks ago, arrived in New York today from Washington where he held meetings with President George W. Bush and other top US officials.
At an hour-long meeting, Mr Annan urged the prime minister to ease restrictions on Palestinians and questioned plans to expand a Jewish settlement known as Har Homa, which Palestinians view as a provocation.
Mr Annan also appeared to take issue with Mr Sharon's insistence on an end to six months of violence before peace talks can resume, the sources said.
The UN Security Council is currently mulling a Palestinian proposal to send observers to the West Bank and Gaza.
The vote is expected before an Arab summit next week, which Mr Annan will address. Mr Sharon was reported to have asked Annan to use his influence towards moderation at the summit.
Mr Annan raised the issue of observers but Mr Sharon and said he would oppose any UN observers in the Palestinian territories. In rejecting the proposed force, Mr Sharon said terrorists could find shelter by hiding behind them and Israeli soldiers could then clash with observers.
In the Gaza Strip today a Palestinian security officer was killed by Israeli tank shell fire. The Israeli army said their action was a response to mortar shell attacks on two Jewish settlements in the area.
Mr Kamel Al-Jamal, a lieutenant in a special guard unit for Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat, was killed and three others injured when Israeli troops fired tank shells at their outpost a Palestinian official said.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said troops fired two tank shells after Palestinians fired three mortar shells at the Netzarim settlement and two more at the Morag settlement. There were no Israelis injured, she said.
Mr Jamal's death brought to 440 the number of people killed since violence broke out in the region nearly six months ago - 361 Palestinians, 13 Israeli Arabs, 65 other Israelis and one German.
This afternoon in Jerusalem Israeli police discovered a car bomb in an ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood in the west of the city, a police spokesman said.
The bomb, hidden in the trunk of a stolen car parked in the Mea Shearim district of Jerusalem was being defused by a police bomb squad, the spokesman said.
AFP &