BBC Monday, 14 May, 2001, 02:12 GMT 03:12 UK

Israel pounds Gaza targets

Israel has carried out major missile and artillery attacks on Palestinian targets across the Gaza Strip in response to what it describes as "continuing Palestinian terrorist activities".

Reports say the area around the headquarters of the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, lit up amid huge explosions.

Warships off the coast fired shells at Palestinian naval police positions in central Gaza, while helicopter gunships attacked Palestinian armoured vehicles north of Khan Yunis, near the Jabalya refugee camp.

In the West Bank, unconfirmed reports say five Palestinians were killed when Israeli planes attacked a Palestinian police station near the town of Ramallah.

Palestinian sources said at least 15 people were wounded in the Gaza bombardment, which a BBC correspondent describes as an intensification of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians that has left more than 500 dead in seven months.

An Israeli army spokesman said: "The Israeli army has attacked targets controlled by the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip because of continuing Palestinian terrorist activities and the escalation of violence in recent days."

The attack comes at a sensitive time. On Tuesday, Palestinians mark what they call Al Nakba Day - the day commemorating the creation of the Israeli state in 1948 which they commonly refer to as "the catastrophe".

Earlier, the Palestinian authorities released from detention a senior figure in the militant group, Hamas.

Abdel Aziz Rantissi was arrested two weeks ago at a rally in Gaza after brandishing an AK-47 rifle and condemning any idea of a ceasefire with Israel.

A senior Palestinian official is in Washington on a mission to persuade President George W Bush's administration to intervene in the stalled Middle East peace process.

Mahmud Abbas, said to be the number two in the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, is the highest-ranking Palestinian to be invited to Washington since Mr Bush took office in January.

Commenting on the Washington mission, a Palestinian official told voice of Palestine Radio: "The goal of the meetings is to look at ways to get out of the crisis."

Mr Abbas is due to discuss with US Secretary of State Colin Powell a report by an international panel which calls for Israel to freeze the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Mr Powell has described the report as "very fine", saying it could "give us a launch pad to start a new initiative" in the Middle East.

But Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has already rejected any freeze on settlements.

The talks are also expected to explore an Egyptian-Jordanian plan that would lead to a full resumption of peace talks.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2001