TEL AVIV Ñ At least 15 Israelis and Palestinians were killed in a series of attack and responses in one of the bloodiest days of fighting in their nearly 17-month-old war.

On late Tuesday, six Israelis were killed in a Palestinian insurgency attack near an Israeli military roadblock outside the West Bank city of Ramallah. The attack was believed carried out by at least two Palestinian insurgents who fled to Ramallah. The Israelis were not identified but were believed to be military personnel.

Earlier in the day, Israeli troops and aircraft launched a series of attacks that focused on the Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources said at least nine Palestinians were killed.

Two Palestinians blew themselves up in separate attacks on Monday. One attack took place on the eastern outskirts of Jerusalem. The other was reported near the Kissufim terminal that divides Israeli from the Gaza Strip.

Four Israelis were killed in the attacks, in which the Fatah movement of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat claimed responsibility. In the Jerusalem attack, a police officer who stopped a Palestinian car with the suicide bomber, was killed. The Palestinian set off a bomb that destroyed the car and killed himself.

On Monday evening, another Palestinian opened fire on an Israeli vehicle in the Gaza Strip. When soldiers responded and returned fire, the Palestinian rushed them, hurling grenades and then blowing himself up. Three Israelis were killed.

Israeli officials said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had pledged to the Bush administration that he will not launch a military operation that will endanger the PA. The officials said Washington is concerned that an Israeli campaign against the PA will jeopardize U.S. plans to form an alliance against Iraq.

Hours after the suicide attacks, Israeli F-16 fighters attacked PA targets in the West Bank city of Ramallah and the Gaza city of Rafah. The Ramallah attack was near Arafat's headquarters and four PA officers were lightly injured. Nobody was hurt in the Israeli strike on an empty PA facility.

But Palestinian sources said 10 Palestinians were killed in a shootout with Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip and West Bank on Tuesday. The fighting was reported near the Jewish settlement bloc of Katif outside Khan Yunis and the Balata refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus.

Hours later, Israeli AH-64A attack helicopters fired missiles at a Hamas office in the Jabalya refugee camp outside Gaza City. Three Palestinians were reportedly killed.

"The Americans are hoping we don't get too excited," Israeli Communications Minister Reuven Rivlin said.

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is scheduled to convene his senior ministers to discuss strategy toward the Palestinian Authority. Israeli officials said Sharon has been urged by the United States not to launch any attack that could topple the PA or its leader Yasser Arafat.

Israeli military sources said Sharon is being pressed by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz to approve a major offensive against the PA. The sources said Israeli military positions are being targeted by Arafat's forces.

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