Palestinian security officials say at least 50 Israeli tanks, armored vehicles and bulldozers covered by helicopter gunships have thrust into the Palestinian-ruled West Bank town of Qalqilya. 

The officials say Israeli forces wounded three members of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's elite Force 17 guard during the raid. The Israeli army declined immediate comment on Monday's massive incursion. 

The move comes after Israel said Sunday it would step up its military offensive against Palestinians after last week's intense violence left 50 Israelis and at least 100 Palestinians dead. 

It also came just hours after word of an expected meeting between Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and chief Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat. It was expected their talks would lay the groundwork for this week's visits to the region by U.S. Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni and Vice President Dick Cheney. 

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had met Israel's conditions for freedom of movement by arresting certain Palestinians militants. But Mr. Sharon did not say when, or if, Mr. Arafat would actually be let out of Ramallah, where he has been under virtual house arrest since December. 

Early Sunday, at least 30 Israeli missiles destroyed Mr. Arafat's Gaza City headquarters. 

On Saturday, Mr. Sharon said he would no longer demand a full week of calm before ceasefire talks can resume. Israel's main condition for lifting its travel ban on Mr. Arafat was that he arrest Palestinian suspects in the assassination of an Israeli cabinet minister Rehavam Zeevi. Mr. Sharon says the suspects from the October killing have been arrested. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP

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