The Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres will visit Washington next week for talks with United States Secretary of State Colin Powell. The announcement came as Israeli and Palestinian officials continued security talks at the U.S. ambassador's residence in Tel Aviv.
Earlier today, Israeli troops were reported to have shot dead one Palestinian and wounded 14 others near the Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources said that Israeli troops opened fire on mourners attending the funeral of a Palestinian policeman as the procession came close to a Jewish settlement. In a separate incident, one person was injured when a car exploded in the central Israeli City of Or Yehuda. Israel radio reported that the explosion was caused by a car bomb planted by Palestinian militants in the central market area.
A bomb exploded in front of a bus carrying Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, without causing any damage or injuries. The explosion occurred near the Barkan settement in the north west of the West Bank, on the main road between a series of Jewish settlements. The Israeli army sealed off the area and is searching for any other bombs. Elsewhere the army reported five gun or grenade attacks by Palestinian fighters against Israeli positions overnight; three in the Gaza Strip and two in the West Bank. There were no reported injuries.
