JERUSALEM Ñ Israel has withdrawn from a major West Bank city in wake of the killing of five Israelies in Palestinian attacks.

Israeli troops left the Bethlehem area overnight Monday after a meeting of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Tanks and troops also were pulled out of Bet Jallah, the launching pad for attacks on neighboring Jerusalem. Israel's military presence in the area lasted 10 days.

The withdrawal was prompted by heavy U.S. pressure on Israel and plans by Sharon to visit London and Washington over the next two weeks. Israeli officials said the military presence in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christianity, was the focus of international opposition.

Officials said the United States has pressed Sharon to arrive in Washington next month with proposals meant to resume peace talks with the Palestinians. They said Sharon was dismayed by the U.S. demand and has threatened to cancel his visit to Washington.

The Israeli pullout was completed hours after five Israelis were killed in two separate attacks on Sunday. In the northern city of Hadera, a Palestinian squad mowed down a group of Israeli women at a bus stop. Four women were killed and 50 were injured. Two of them were described in criticial condition.

Israeli security forces responded quickly and in a subsequent shootout killed two Palestinian attackers. They were identified as PA police officers who were working for the opposition Islamic Jihad.

Earlier, an Israeli soldier was killed by Palestinian insurgents. The Fatah movement headed by PA Chairman Yasser Arafat claimed responsibility.

On Monday, Israeli authorities announced the arrest of 10 Israeli Arabs on charges of launching attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers. Several Druse citizens were arrested on charges of selling weapons to the Iranian-sp onsored Hizbullah.

In Gaza, the Islamic opposition Hamas movement said it has developed and successfully tested a long-range mortar. Hamas leaders said the mortar has a range of five kilometers and was fired on Friday into Israel.

PA security officials have rejected Israeli demands for the arrest and extradition of Palestinians suspected of being involved in the killing of an Israeli minister last week. Two of the assassins are believed to be hiding in PA-controlled areas of the West Bank.

"The question is utterly unacceptable," PA General Intelligence chief Col. Tawfik Tirawi said. "Never in the past did we hand over a Palestinian, and we will never do so. We are a national authority responsible for the Palestinian people, and the interest of the Palestinian people is our first and foremost priority."

More than 40 members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine were arrested by PA since the assassination of former Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi. The detainees were said to have gone on a hunger strike.

Israeli and PA security commanders met in Bethlehem in a session organized by U.S. envoys. The meeting was described as tense as PA commanders demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from the entire West Bank.

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