'Palestinians killed' in Hebron attack

Israeli forces invaded the West Bank town of Hebron this morning, reportedly killing nine Palestinians, while in Bethlehem a Palestinian gunmen holed up in the Church of the Nativity was shot dead by Israeli snipers.
The incursion into Hebron came just hours after Israel's cabinet reluctantly agreed to US proposals to release the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, from his month-long confinement at his West Bank headquarters.

Israel said Mr Arafat was free to leave his compound in Ramallah now, but his aides suggested he would not do so until six Palestinians wanted by Israel had been moved from his headquarters to a prison in the nearby town of Jericho within the next two days.