Former US senator Mr George Mitchell leaves today for the Middle East for talks with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, as well as representatives from neighboring Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Mr Mitchell has suggested that US President George W. Bush invite Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat to Washington.
Mr Mitchell was speaking ahead of talks in Washington today between Mr Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Meanwhile, a bomb went off early today near an Israeli tank as it passed by the Jewish settlement of Nissanit in the north of the Gaza strip, but it caused no injuries, military sources said.
The sources said the booby-trap device had been set to go off as the tank drove by.
Several Israelis and 10 Palestinians were wounded yesterday in shootings on the West Bank, as violence continued despite a June 13 ceasefire agreement between Israelis and Palestinians that was brokered by US CIA director Mr George Tenet.
AFP
