Israel boosts police numbers as violence mounts

Two Israeli soldiers died in ambushes and troops shot dead four Palestinians at the weekend in deepening violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, Reuter reports from Jerusalem. After a cabinet meeting yesterday the government announced it would increase protection for Israelis, both in the occupied territories and inside Israel.

The regular police force will be raised by 2,000-3,000 men from the current 18,000, Israeli radio stations said. The government said it would tighten entry into Israel of Arab workers and urged Israelis to stop employing poorly paid Palestinians.