HIGHLIGHTS: Britain Circulates Rival Resolution.
Annan Proposes 'Robust' International Force.
Incursion in Gaza, Deaths in Ramallah, Explosions in Bethlehem & Burial of the Dead in Nablus.
Hamas Activist Arrested.
Arafat in Good Health.
Read photo caption within.

STORYA debate on a new Arab-backed UN draft resolution, which the United States opposes, opened at the UN Security Council in New York Thursday. The resolution demands an immediate Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian cities, an end to the siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and a U.N. investigation into the deaths and destruction in the Jenin refugee camp. 

The meeting will continue Friday when a vote is expected.

Britain circulated a rival resolution, which calls for implementation of three recent Mideast resolutions, demands
humanitarian access to Palestinian civilians, and asks Annan to establish an independent commission to investigate events in the Jenin refugee camp.

ANNAN PROPOSES A 'ROBUST' ARMED INTERNATIONAL FORCE

Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan appealed Thursday for a "robust" armed international force to halt the escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel said no and the United States said any Mideast solution must have the support of both parties.

Elaborating on a proposal he made last Friday, Annan told the council an international force was in the interests of both parties and he urged Israel and the Palestinians to cooperate with it.

Annan told reporters he "was encouraged by the response" to his proposal. The United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia have been working together to try to find a solution, he said, and "I expect the United States to play an important role."

Annan's proposal won support from most of the 30 nations whose envoys spoke at the opening of the council meeting debating the Arab draft resolution.

MASSIVE DESTRUCTION IN JENIN

Israeli occupation forces are expected to complete their withdrawal from Jenin and its neighbouring camp Friday leaving behind a scene of massive destruction. Terje Roed-Larsen, the U.N. envoy, said 300 buildings were destroyed and 2,000 people were left homeless in the Jenin refugee camp, scene of the bloodiest fighting of Israel's savage three-week campaign to capture or kill Resistance men in the West Bank. It is however only a partial withdrawal as occupation troops would take up positions just outside, preventing Palestinians from entering or leaving. Palestinians have demanded that Israel remove all its roadblocks, but occupation sources claimed they are necessary to prevent further Resistance attacks against Israeli occupation targets. The measure taken by the Israeli government is a far cry from what has been demanded of Israel by the UN Security Council and President Bush. Nevertheless, in Washington President Bush claimed Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was keeping his promise to withdraw and was on schedule.

INCURSION IN GAZA, DEATHS IN GAZA & RAMALLAH, EXPLOSIONS IN BETHLEHEM & THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD IN NABLUS

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation troops moved briefly into Palestinian-controlled territory near the border with Egypt, scene of frequent clashes and incursions. Palestinian doctors said one man was killed in an exchange of fire.

In the town of Beitunia, near Ramallah, Palestinian officials said a nine-year-old boy was killed on Thursday when Israeli occupation soldiers fired at several houses.

In Bethlehem, gunfire and the explosions of stun grenades were heard Thursday near the Church of the Nativity, where Israeli occupation forces are laying siege to 200 alleged Palestinian Resistance men.

Bethlehem residents say smoke rose over the ancient basilica. Witnesses said the firing came in two bursts about 15 minutes apart, each lasting for a few minutes.

There was no word of casualties.

In Nablus, Palestinians buried 35 people killed by Israeli troops. Anan al-Qadri, emergency services coordinator, said 13 were buried in a mass grave and the rest individually. Another 14 were to be buried on Friday, he said.

HUSAM BADRAN ARRESTED

Near Nablus, Israeli occupation sources said they have captured Husam Ataf Ali Badran; a leader of the Hamas Resistance group who the occupation army claimed was responsible for the deaths of more than 100 Israelis in some of the worst Resistance bombings in the last year.

But a Palestinian source said Badran was not the head of Hamas's military wing in the northern West Bank as Israel charged but a "very low-level activist."

He reportedly had a hand in the March 27 Passover bombing in Netanya that triggered the Israeli drive into Palestinian cities and towns. Witnesses said he was captured and three others were killed in a raid by helicopters firing rockets and machine guns outside the village of Beit Hassan.

ARAFAT IN GOOD HEALTH

A leading Jordanian neurologist who examined the Palestinian leader Thursday said Yasser Arafat is in good health and high morale, but he could use more sleep and the rooms he is confined have little oxygen, Dr. Ashraf al-Kurdi told reporters in Amman after returning from the West Bank town of Ramallah, where he examined Arafat for 90 minutes Thursday, had recently complained that the 72-year-old's medical examination was four months overdue.


PHOTO CAPTION:


During a brief lifting of a curfew imposed by the Israeli army, a Palestinian girl rushes past Israeli soldiers in the Old City of the West Bank town of Bethlehem to join the rest of her family Thursday, April 18, 2002. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelde