Three more killings put CIA-brokered truce under pressure

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A week after a CIA-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians, the list of the dead is ticking steadily upwards ­ rising by three more yesterday.

Two Israelis were shot in the occupied West Bank by Palestinian gunmen and a 16-year-old Arab youth in the Gaza Strip died of his wounds. A nine-year-old boy was also buried. The spate of killings brings the number to die since the ceasefire was finally formalised by the CIA director George Tenet last week to eight ­ five Palestinians and three Israelis. It will strengthen mutual allegations that the truce is being routinely broken, and bring more political pressure on both sides to step up the conflict.

Israel's government publicity machine has successfully promoted the view that the violence is committed only by the Palestinians. In reality, violations of the truce have come from both sides.

On Sunday two Palestinian youths were shot by the Israeli military, which says its soldiers are under orders to shoot only when their lives are threatened. The youths had reportedly been throwing stones.

There were three shootings of Israeli motorists yesterday. A 35-year-old Jewish settler was shot dead on the West Bank. A faction of Fatah claimed responsibility. A second person was shot dead last night in a convoy of cars approaching the Jewish settlement of Einav in the northern West Bank.

The violence was reflected in hostile verbal exchanges. Israel's Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon has said a "cooling-off" period will not begin until the Palestinian attacks have been brought to a complete halt.

Speaking during a trip to Jordan, Yasser Arafat accused Israel of breaking international commitments and warned that the ceasefire deal would not last unless Israel ended its blockade of the occupied territories and froze settlement building.

Israel is sticking to what it calls a policy of "restraint", maintaining much of its punitive siege, but using less excessive military measures than earlier in the conflict. Yesterday, Mr Sharon reiterated this intention: "I am not willing to accept calls ... saying I have to take this nation to war."

Two bombs were discovered and safely detonated inside Israel in the Mediterranean city of Haifa yesterday. One bomb was attached to a motorcycle and was set to be detonated by an attached cellular telephone, a police spokesman said.

The events have placed Ariel Sharon under further pressure from the far-right to launch a major military strike against the Palestinians, a move which he publicly resisted.

"There are many things we must do ... but to take the people now to war, in my view, is a mistake of the first order from every perspective," the Israeli Prime Minister told members of his Likud party.