TEL AVIV Ñ Israel's military chief has cut short his visit to the United States amid escalating tension with the Palestinians as well as with Syria and Lebanon.

But Israeli officials said the sudden return of Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz does not signal an intention by the Jewish state to launch an offensive against the Palestinian Authority. Three Israelis died and more than 10 others were injured in bombing and shooting attacks within Israel and the West Bank on Monday.

Mofaz cut short his visit to the United States and returns on Tuesday to Israel. Military sources cited the tension along the northern border with Lebanon as well as alerts of Palestinian attacks.

"The Palestinians are not doing enough to reach a ceasefire," Mofaz said.

An Israeli military statement said the decision to cut short Mofaz's visit did not affect his scheduled meetings with U.S. defense officials.

Mofaz was said to have discussed joint military programs with his U.S. hosts, including aid, training and development programs. His visit was to have lasted until this weekend and included tours of U.S. military bases.

Mofaz also met U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. Powell was said to have objected to the Israeli assassinations of suspected Palestinian organizers of recent bombing attacks.

Israeli sources said they expect a spate of Palestinian attacks during the absence of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. Arafat left on Monday evening for Cairo as bombs exploded in a Tel Aviv suburb and Palestinian gunners resumed mortar attacks on Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip. An Israeli settler was killed near the West Bank city of Hebron.

U.S. officials arranged a late-night meeting in Tel Aviv between Israeli and PA security chiefs to discuss the escalation in violence. The meeting was said to have ended in failure.

In Washington, the State Department criticized Israel's killing of three Islamic fugitives suspected of responsibility for a spate of bombings in Israeli cities earlier this year. Another Palestinian was killed by Israeli troops on late Monday in what military sources termed was an accident.

An Israeli Cabinet panel decided on Tuesday to continue the Jewish state's policy of assassinating whom officials termed Palestinian terrorist leaders. Government sources who reported this did not elaborate.

Diplomats said they were skeptical that the U.S. efforts would succeed.

"The last events of the last couple of days show how fragile the ceasefire is," UN envoy Terje Larsen said. "All indications are now it will not hold."

Hizbullah, which fired anti-tank missiles over the last few days, has pledged to continue attacks against Israel. On late Monday, the Lebanese border tension was discussed in a telephone conversation between the presidents of Iran and Syria. =

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