VOA News
23 Jun 2003, 14:32 UTC
Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs are meeting to discuss transfer of security to the Palestinians in parts of the occupied territories.
Israeli General Amos Gilad and Palestinian security chief Mohammad Dahlan are leading the meeting Monday at the Erez checkpoint on the Israeli border with Gaza.
At issue is an Israeli withdrawal of troops from Gaza, but only if the Palestinians can guarantee security.
Israel's General Gilad has said his country does not want a temporary cease-fire with Palestinian militants, but a complete end to terror.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas has been negotiating with Hamas and other groups to declare a cease-fire in attacks against Israelis.
Hamas has delayed answering Mr. Abbas, citing Israel's continuing targeted killings of Hamas leaders, but an answer is expected soon, perhaps as early as Monday.
Palestinian officials blame Israel for the death of four members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades overnight in Gaza, saying they were killed by an Israeli tank shell.
Israel denies any tanks were in the area, and says the militants may have been killed when explosives they were preparing for an attack went off prematurely.
Meanwhile, the White House announced Monday that President George W. Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, will travel to the Middle East later this week.
In other action overnight, Israeli forces entered the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, and destroyed two homes they said militants used to launch attacks against Israelis.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke Sunday in Jordan, where he met with representatives of the European Union, Russia and the United Nations to discuss the Middle East peace process. The parties make up the so-called quartet who drafted the "road map" to peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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