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Israel bars its

citizens from

Ramallah

JERUSALEM: Israel said that from Wednesday its citizens would be barred from entering PLO-ruled Ramallah in the West Bank ahead of a visit to the area by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

"The city of Ramallah will be a closed military area to Israelis until futher notice," an Israel army spokeswoman said.

Arafat is due to attend a session of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Ramallah on Wednesday.

Israel periodically bans its citizens from PLO-ruled areas when there is a perceived security risk.

The army, however, lifted a ban on the Hebron University vicinity imposed after Palestinian students clashed with Israeli troops on Tuesday.

The students were calling for the reopening of the university, closed after Islamic militant suicide attacks killed 58 people in Israel between February and March.-Reuter