Israel killed an Islamic Jihad leader and six other Palestinians yesterday, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vowed a broad offensive against Palestinian militants.

A missile blew apart a car carrying Shadi Mhanna in Jabalya refugee camp, witnesses said. At least one of the other Palestinians killed was also an Islamic Jihad militant. Ten people, among them bystanders, were wounded.

Mr Sharon said there could be no advance towards peace for now because of the "absolute failure of the Palestinian Authority in the fight against terrorism", and promised to launch a major military operation expected to focus on the occupied West Bank.

"Our action will be broad and will not stop until it brings about a cessation of terrorism," Mr Sharon said ahead of a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Tel Aviv.

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