Palestinian territories sealed off

With the approach of the Jewish festival of Purim on Sunday, the Israeli army late on Thursday completely shut down crossings with the West Bank and Gaza Strip until Monday.

"In keeping with a decision at the political level and in light of security considerations, the West Bank and Gaza Strip have been sealed off from tonight for the duration of the Purim festival," the army said a statement.

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Earlier Thursday a 14-year-old Palestinian schoolboy was killed and five others shot and wounded by the Israeli army during an incursion into Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, medical sources said.

Meanwhile, Israel's Supreme Court ordered a 10-day delay in the army's evacuation of wildcat Jewish settlements in the West Bank following an appeal by settlers, court sources said.

In Gaza City, around 3,000 people chanting "Revenge, revenge" and "Our answer will be in Tel Aviv" turned out for the funerals of Ibrahim al-Deiri, 38, and Tarad al-Jamal, 24 whose car was blown up Wednesday by two rockets near Netzarim settlement south of Gaza City.

Another 2,000 people attended a funeral in the Nusseirat refugee camp in central Gaza for Ammar Hassan, 25, who was also killed in the air strike.

The Israeli army said the three had been behind numerous deadly operations and were planning an "imminent" attack.

With Purim looming, Israel has deployed thousands of extra border guards and police officers in anticipation of a revenge Hamas strike, including in schools, commercial centers and shopping malls, police said in Tel Aviv.

"We know the terrorist organisations' ability to penetrate when it is possible ... our forces are doing their best, utmost efforts to secure a safe, quiet holiday," Public Security Minister Tzahi Hanegbi said in Jerusalem.

In Rafah, Mohammed Othman, who was in his school playground when troops moved into the area, was fatally wounded in the stomach, medics said.

The Israeli army said the incursion was aimed at demolishing tunnels used to smuggle weapons under the nearby border with Egypt.

The youngster's death brought the overall toll since the start of the Palestinian intifada, or uprising, in September 2000 to 3,798, including 2,844 Palestinians and 886 Israelis.

One day earlier, a 22-year-old Israeli and his father were arrested in Israel in connection with a series of anti-Arab attacks across the Jewish state, including one targeting an Arab-Israeli lawmaker, police said.

Eliran Golan and his father Meir, 45, are accused of orchestrating nine bombings over the last three years, including one targeting Arab-Israeli MP Issam Makhul in October, Israeli police spokesman Gil Kleiman told AFP.

Following the high court decision over Jewish settlements, Israel now has 10 days to submit its arguments as to why the outposts should be dismantled, the sources said.

On the domestic Israeli front, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon tried to shake off the fallout from revelations connected to a prisoner swap with Hezbollah.

Commentators said Thursday that Sharon was being dangerously weakened by revelations over his links to the family of a captive freed as part of a controversial deal with the Lebanese Shia militia.

A poll in the Maariv daily showed that 42 percent felt he should quit if he had links to the family but failed to divulge them, although 43 percent said he had no reason to resign.