Jerusalem, June 15: Moves to advance the fledgling peace process were evident late yesterday as Israeli and Palestinian officials met to discuss a possible Israeli withdrawal from parts of the Palestinian territories, despite one of the bloodiest weeks in their 32-month-old conflict. The effort by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to ease tensions after the deaths of more than 60 people since last Sunday came amid strong US pressure for movement on the peace roadmap championed by President George W Bush.
Israeli and Palestinian security officials met last night to discuss a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied Palestinian land, officials on both sides said.
Among those attending the talks were Palestinian Minister of State for Security Affairs Mohammed Dahlan, the coordinator for Israeli activities in the Palestinian territories General Amos Gilad and representatives of Israel`s Shin Beth Intelligence Service.
At the talks, Dahlan was expected to demand a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the southern West Bank town of Bethlehem, and to ask that Israel stop its assassinations and put an end to all military incursions into Palestinian area, he added.
Israeli, for its part, would ask Dahlan to submit "a detailed plan to combat terrorism" and would present him with a list of Palestinian militants wanted by Israel, Israel public radio said.
Following a week of heavy bloodshed, new hopes were raised Friday when Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said his troops were ready to withdraw from Gaza and hand over policing duties to the Palestinians if Dahlan would accept responsibility for security.
Bureau Report