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Reports say Israeli and Palestinian officials are making progress toward a deal that would give Palestinians control of security in the entire Gaza Strip.

The reports from U.S. and Israeli newspapers say that under the deal, Israel's army would withdraw from most or all of Gaza and the Palestinian Authority would take responsibility for clamping down on Palestinian militants.

The Los Angeles Times newspaper says U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell helped the sides work on details of the accord while visiting the region on Friday.

Officials from both sides say the main hold-up is a disagreement over checkpoints Israel wants on Gaza's main highway. Israel says the checkpoints are necessary to protect Israeli settlers. Palestinians say control of the road is essential for reviving the local economy, which has virtually collapsed under months of Israeli travel restrictions. Officials caution the deal could unravel due to violence or other factors. But senior Palestinian officials say they hope it could pave the way for a larger agreement that would include a cease-fire by Palestinian militant groups and an end to Israeli killings of suspected militant leaders. Speaking to reporters Friday, Secretary Powell said an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would be a "powerful and important" first step toward peace. Mr. Powell first met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem Friday before going to Jericho for talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

U.S. officials say President Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, will head to the region next week to work on the "road map" plan for peace in the region. The plan calls for a halt to violence and other moves leading to creation of a Palestinian state next to Israel in 2005.