Thousands protest against Israel ceasefire
Many Jewish settlers want a military response
Thousands of Israeli settlers and their supporters have taken to the streets of west Jerusalem, demanding that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon should end Israel's ceasefire.
The crowd, estimated by police to be 20,000-strong, demanded strikes against Palestinian targets and called on Mr Sharon to be faithful to his hardline election pledges.
Earlier, Israel started easing a blockade of the West Bank and Gaza imposed after Friday's bombing of a nightclub in Tel Aviv.
The developments came as the director of the US CIA flew to the Middle East, on a mission that signals a deeper involvement by the Bush administration in the search for peace.
Arriving in Cairo, George Tenet met President Mubarak of Egypt before heading for other countries in the region.
He is expected to hold meetings with Mr Sharon, and the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, in an effort to achieve a formal ceasefire.
Minority view
Mr Sharon says his policy of restraint is scoring diplomatic points for Israel.
Israeli hardliners disagree, accusing Mr Sharon of being weak.
But a BBC correspondent in Jerusalem says theirs is a minority view, and the government still enjoys popular support.
Earlier in the day, settlers went on the rampage in the West Bank after a Jewish baby was severely injured by Palestinian stone-throwers.
The settlers attacked Palestinian residents and set fire to several homes.
Easing blockade
Israel said it had decided to ease the blockade of Palestinian territories, allowing food and fuel supplies in to replace rapidly-dwindling supplies.
A statement from the office of Israeli Defence Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said the decision to partially lift the blockade was a result of "a significant reduction" in anti-Israeli attacks.
But while some fuel has been let through, it is not enough to overcome the shortages which have affected the territories in recent days.
Ceasefire holding
Several food trucks have been seen entering, although supplies were never completely stopped during the blockade.
The ceasefire in the territories still appears to be holding despite further clashes.
Thirteen Palestinian students were reported injured in clashes with Israeli police near the West Bank town of Ramallah.
They were protesting against a roadblock
which has been preventing them from reaching
Bir Zeit University.
-- Anonymous, June 06, 2001