Token withdrawal under US pressure

ISRAEL was beginning a token withdrawal from two West Bank towns last night after President Bush insisted on immediate action in response to his demand to pull out forces from Palestinian areas.

Amid signs of a looming row with Washington, the army was expected to leave the towns of Tulkarm and Qalqiliya, but still encircle them. The order will not affect other cities where fierce fighting has continued for days, with more than 200 Palestinian casualties.

Earlier the prime minister, Ariel Sharon, insisted that he would not withdraw the army until it had completed its job, which he said was to root out "terrorist infrastructure" and capture wanted men.

In an uncompromising speech to the Israeli parliament, Mr Sharon said the army would still besiege the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the traditional site of Jesus's birth, until the gunmen who have sought refuge there were brought to justice.

The withdrawal announced last night seemed tailored to avoid a row with Washington, while allowing the army to continue bulldozing and attacking with rockets its main targets, the refugee camp on the outskirts of the city of Jenin and the casbah of Nablus, where the narrow alleys give dozens of armed men hiding places.