Israelis want Dahlan to submit a detailed plan to combat "terrorism"

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, June 14 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Few hours after the Palestinian Authority announced readiness to assume security responsibility in case the Israeli occupation forces should withdraw from occupied territories, an Israeli official source said Israeli and Palestinian security officials are expected to meet late Saturday, June 14, to discuss a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops.

"This meeting about a possible Israeli withdrawal could take place Saturday evening," the official said, who asked not to be named and gave no details.

However, Israeli public radio said the talks would bring together the coordinator for Israeli activities in the Palestinian territories, General Amos Gilad, representatives of the Shin Beth intelligence service and Palestinian Security Minister Mohammad Dahlan, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The radio said the Israelis would be asking Dahlan to submit "a detailed plan to combat terrorism," in a reference to the Palestinian resistance groups.

The Israeli official speaking to AFP said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had said several times he was in favor of pulling the army out of areas it has reoccupied, notably in the past year, on condition that the Palestinians assume the responsibility for maintaining law and order there.

The official said the United States "is putting very strong pressure on the Palestinian government to prevent the terrorists of Hamas carrying out attacks."

Israel has declared all-out war on Hamas, which carried out an attack Wednesday, June 11, killing 17 Israelis.

The operation came in retaliation to the failed Israeli assassination attempt against Abdul Aziz el-Rantissi, a senior Hamas leader, a day earlier.

Ready 

The Palestinians are ready to take over responsibility for security in areas evacuated by Israeli troops, Information Minister Nabil Amr said Saturday amid talks to end the latest cycle of violence.

He made his remarks after Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said his troops were ready to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and hand over policing duties to the Palestinian Authority.

"We are ready to take responsibility for any area that Israel withdraws from in the framework of the (U.S.-backed peace) roadmap," Amr told AFP as Palestinian President Yasser Arafat resumed a meeting with his security chiefs begun late Friday, June 13.

Amr said that U.S., Egyptian, Israeli and Palestinian officials were "totally involved in contacts and talks" to end an explosion of bloodshed that has left more than 60 people dead since an international peace summit 10 days ago.

He said contacts were under way with Hamas on a draft agreement for a truce.

3-day Truce

A senior Palestinian source told AFP a top aide to Sharon had delivered a proposal for a ceasefire to initially last three days.

Israel would stop all attempts to assassinate Palestinian activists in exchange for an agreement by Hamas to halt all attacks on Israel, including the firing of Qassam rockets, the source said.

Following the three-day period, the truce would be renewed on a daily basis while the two sides discuss plans for a comprehensive ceasefire, he said.

The offer, delivered by Sharon's chief of staff Dov Weisglass to Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayad, was discussed late Friday at a meeting between Arafat and his security chiefs, added the source.

The reports came after a newspaper poll found that a majority of Israelis oppose the army's attack on Rantissi, and two fifths think the purpose was to sabotage the