CAIRO, Aug 4: The Arab League has called an emergency meeting of its representatives here tomorrow at the request of the Palestinians, as Israel today continued arrests of Palestinians rounding up at least 29 in the West Bank area.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said tough measures rolled out by Israel after last week's bombing in Jerusalem, including the closure of West Bank and Gaza, was a ``collective punishment'' while another Palestinian official termed them as ``unfair and counterproductive to peace''.

The closure of the Palestinian-controlled areas have prevented thousands of Palestinians from going to their work places in Israel.

Fifteen people were killed in the twin blasts last week at a vegetable market place. Though the two suicide bombers were reported to be Palestinians their identity has still not been established. Meanwhile, Israeli troops, soldiers and police spread out in the country to thwart any more terrorist attacks. Reports said a Palestinian was shot dead yesterday and sources added it could be the work of Israeli extremists or of a rival Palestinian group. The Israeli Army has said that those arrested today were suspected of being involved in terrorist activity. Municipality workers also tore down three illegally built homes in Arab East Jerusalem.Two of the houses were in the Isawiya neighbourhood and one in Shuafat refugee camp, reports reaching here said. Later today, Yasser Arafat is to call on Jordan's King Hussein in Amman.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.