Israel, Arabs to resume talks

JERUSALEM -- Israeli and Palestinian officials said late Friday they would resume peace talks focused on security issues on Saturday for the first time since meeting in Aqaba, Jordan. The announcement followed a sixth Israeli airstrike Friday that killed a Hamas activist and more threats of future violence that could overwhelm peace efforts.

Palestinian security chief Mohammed Dahlan is expected to tell Israeli officials at a meeting today in Jerusalem that he is prepared to take over security control in the northern Gaza Strip and in parts of the Palestinian West Bank -- a crucial first step to restarting the stalled road map peace process.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told Israeli Army Radio Friday night that he would turn over security control in the embattled stretch of the Gaza Strip to Dahlan "immediately and without preconditions," despite the attacks and counterattacks this week that have left 56 dead.

In Friday's attack that killed Hamas activist Fuad Lidawi, 26, Israeli helicopter gunships fired at least two missiles, killing Lidawi.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said Lidawi was on his way to carry out rocket attacks against the city of Sderot.

Hours later helicopters launched a second missile strike at a warehouse in Gaza, saying it held Hamas rockets. Following Mofaz's statement Friday, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat called an emergency meeting with Dahlan and the heads of the five security branches that Arafat still controls. The two reportedly agreed to accept the Israeli offer to take over security in Gaza, as well as anywhere else where Israel would relinquish control.

It remained unclear whether the tentative steps toward cooperation could reverse a week of violence that has undermined President Bush's drive to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In addition, Arafat's behind-the-scenes role was likely to rankle Washington, which has tried to sideline him for a year and instead is backing Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

Dahlan and Abbas had previously balked at taking over security because their forces are depleted from three years of Mideast violence. In addition, the fledgling leaders feared that a failure to curb militants in the areas they control would provide Israel with grounds for reneging on obligations in the road map.

Palestinian sources said they now believe they have no choice but to take over security to keep the road map process from collapsing.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday in Washington that he was anxious to see restraint from both sides and a renewed focus on the goals of the peace process.

"We've got to punch our way through (the violence) and get on with the steps called for in the road map," Powell said.

A spokesman for Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said Friday night that Israeli and Palestinian officials had formulated a proposal -- under pressure from U.S. and Egyptian officials -- to end Israeli missile attacks on Hamas in exchange for a guaranteed cease- fire by Hamas, including an end to incessant homemade rocket fire by militants aimed at Sderot and other Israeli cities within firing range of Gaza.

Senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar denied Friday night that the militant group had agreed to any potential cease-fire, but he did confirm the group had been involved in lengthy discussions with Palestinian officials Friday -- the first since Israel attempted to assassinate Hamas political leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi on Tuesday.

The announcement of Saturday's planned meetings -- the first good news for the peace process in more than a week -- came after a day of intense mourning from Jerusalem to Gaza City as Israelis and Palestinians paused to bury dozens killed in this week's fighting.

The plan for Israeli-Palestinian security talks came, however, at the same time that Israeli officials warned that the violence would likely only get worse before it gets better.

"It's very important to maintain the pressure on these terrorists and take them out before they can carry out murderous acts in Israel," said Israeli government spokesman Avi Pazner. "We will forcefully continue our campaign to protect Israeli lives."

Israeli intelligence officials and military commanders acknowledged Friday they've been authorized to assassinate Hamas' white-robed, spiritual founder, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin. Such an attack could have unimaginable consequences on the peace plan, since Yassin is considered far more important in the Palestinian street than Abbas or any Palestinian official pursuing peace.

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