Netanyahu seeks Jordan, Egypt8217;s aid

Israel8217;s government has strongly criticised a Palestinian conference on national unity which took place on Wednesday and Thursday in Ramallah and Gaza during which Arafat made friendly statements concerning the Palestinian opposition, some of whom are regarded as militant.

Arafat, meanwhile, insisted today that he is ready to cooperate with Israel and the United States on security issues. But he also called on Palestinians to create defense committees in case Israeli-Palestinian relations take a turn for the worse.

8220;It should be understood by everybody that we are in favor of security cooperation with the participation of both sides, Palestinian and Israeli,8221; Arafat told a meeting of Palestinian intellectuals in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Israel8217;s police and secret services have also expressed extreme anger at Arafat8217;s refusal to detain some 200 members of the opposition whom Israel would like to see put behind bars.

Arafat, for his part, has repeatedly pointed out that Israel still does not know where the suicide bombers, who blew themselves up in Jerusalem three weeks ago killing 14 other persons, came from . He also rejected Israeli government reports that recent meetings with US officials on resuming security cooperation had not been successful.

8220;Israel is using security as an excuse to place obstacles in the way of returning the peace process to its track,quot; the Palestinian leader said. Meanwhile, the blockade of Palestinian territory and other measures taken, after the bombing, by Israel is 8220;an unjustified collective punishment8221; according to Palestinians. This has resulted in about 100,000 people losing their jobs and has weakened the economy.

Israeli forces kill 3 Hizbollah guerrillas

Israeli forces killed three Hizbollah guerrillas in south Lebanon today in fierce clashes that included air raids and artillery exchanges, Israeli-backed militia sources said.

Hizbollah said it had no information on the reports of casualties which came during south Lebanon8217;s worst cross-border violence since a cease-fire understanding ended a 17-day Israel blitz on Lebanon in April 1996.

The violence was apparently triggered by a Hizbollah rocket and machine gun attack in Blat, inside the Jewish state8217;s occupation zone, security sources said.

The Israeli forces responded with fierce shelling and three air strikes against suspected Hizbollah posts near the villages of Yater and Zibqin, 13 km east of the port city of Tyre which is located 76 km south of Beirut.