The US Senate has approved a resolution expressing solidarity with Israel in the Middle East conflict.
The resolution, which was passed by 94 votes to 2, condemns Palestinian suicide bombings and expresses support for Israel in its struggle against terrorism.
The Secretary of State, Colin Powell, called for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to move in a new direction and to use his leadership to stop anti-Israel violence.
Earlier, Israeli troops have killed one man and wounded three other people in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The church has been under effective Israeli army siege for almost a month.
The army said soldiers fired on five armed men in the courtyard of the church. The church was surrounded last month after some Palestinians, whom the Israelis allege were involved in recent attacks inside Israel, sought refuge there along with priests, police and civilians.
Meanwhile, Yasser Arafat has made his first public appearance in a month following the lifting last night of the Israeli siege of his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah.
The Palestinian leader told journalists that what had happened to him personally was not important. Referring to an overnight gun battle and fire at the Church of the Nativity, however, he described the Israeli army as terrorists and their actions a crime.
Israel accused Palestinian militants of starting two fires inside the church. Palestinian sources said the outbreaks occurred following a failed Israeli army attempt to storm the compound.
