Israel, PA resume security talks; Two Palestinians shot dead

Published June 14th, 2003 - 03:00 GMT

Israeli forces killed late Saturday night a Fatah activist in his Beit Hanoun home, Gaza medical sources said. Two other Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire.

Earlier Saturday, Palestinian sources said that a 19-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire after throwing stones at a tank in the Askar refugee camp in the West Bank city of Nablus. Three other teens were wounded in the incident.

Meanwhile, Israel and the Palestinians resumed top-level security talks. The discussions between Israel's Major General Amos Gilad, and Mohammed Dahlan, Palestinian Authority minister responsible for security affairs were the first such talks since Aqaba summit.

On the table was a proposal that Israel withdraw from parts of the Gaza Strip to positions held before the outbreak of fighting in September 2000, officials on both sides said, according to AP.

Israel also offered to halt military operations for three days to improve the atmosphere, a senior Palestinian official said.

Despite the talks, Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a Hamas leader, said Saturday his group would not halt its attacks against Israel. "The word cease-fire is not in our dictionary," he said. "Resistance will continue until we uproot them from our home land." "Those who said that Hamas is considering a cease-fire agreement or seeking a truce are those working for Sharon," he added.

Israeli officials said the Palestinian security chief, Mohammed Dahlan, would meet later Saturday with Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, while Israel Radio said Israel would be represented in the talks by Maj. Gen. Amos Gilad, a senior defense official.

Dahlan said that there were no plans yet for a meeting. However, Palestinian sources said the security chief was to meet late Saturday with Gilad and Avi Dichter, the head of Israel's Shin Bet security service. Mofaz might also join the talks, the sources said. (Albawaba.com)