Sharon revives ties with Abbas

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon lifted a ban on contacts with the Palestinians yesterday after new leader Mahmoud Abbas ordered Gaza security forces to halt militant attacks on Israelis within days.

Mr Sharon's decision could revive hope for steps towards Middle East peacemaking stirred by Mr Abbas's January 9 election on a platform of ending bloodshed, but abruptly dimmed by persistent militant violence in defiance of his calls for a ceasefire.

A political source said Mr Sharon opted to restore contacts with the Palestinians after his inner cabinet "received information from intelligence sources that Hamas (militants) were starting to cooperate with the Palestinian Authority."

But Mr Sharon's office said contacts would involve only security officials for now and there would be none with Mr Abbas himself on diplomatic issues until after "Palestinians take real steps to stop terrorist operations and rocket and mortar fire".

Cleared by the inner cabinet, senior Israeli and Palestinian security officials met yesterday evening to discuss options for reining in Gaza violence, Israeli media said.

Political sources said heavy Israeli military action in Gaza previously threatened was not now foreseen but the cabinet did approve a future offensive if attacks did not subside soon.

Mr Sharon phoned Mr Abbas to congratulate him on his election and hold out the prospect of what would be the first summit meeting between the sides in years. But Mr Sharon slammed the door a week ago after militants killed six Israelis in a Gaza border ambush.

Palestinian militant chiefs in Gaza said earlier yesterday they were discussing with Mr Abbas his demand for a ceasefire but sporadic violence continued on the ground.

Israeli troops shot dead two militants near Gaza's fenced border, a rocket wounded two soldiers near Erez crossing and two mortar bombs crashed into a Jewish settlement, injuring no one.

A Hamas suicide bombing that killed an Israeli security agent at a Gaza checkpoint on Tuesday was a potent reminder of the obstacles Mr Abbas faces in inducing quiet so he can negotiate for a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

He is caught between the militants and Israeli demands for an end to attacks as a condition for peace negotiations.But yesterday the top Palestinian security commander in Gaza, Major-General Abdel-Razek al-Majaydeh, said security units would fan out near the territory's borders within two days to enforce Mr Abbas's demand for calm.