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A Palestinian militant leader says three major militant groups will officially declare a temporary halt to their attacks on Israel within the next 24 hours.

The news from senior Islamic Jihad official Mohammed al-Hindi comes one day after the groups said they had reached agreement on a three-month suspension of attacks.

The truce reportedly depends on Israel meeting several conditions, including a release of prisoners and an end to operations designed to kill militant leaders.

The three groups, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, have been responsible for hundreds of attacks on Israelis during the Palestinians' 33-month uprising against Israel.

Friday, a U.S. State Department spokesman called the agreement a welcome first step - but said it needs to be followed by the dismantling of the militant groups.

In a related development, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators reached a deal Friday for Israeli troops to withdraw from parts of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank town of Bethlehem. The Palestinian Authority will take over security in those areas with the goal of preventing militant attacks on Israelis.

The White House says that deal represents a significant joint step toward implementing commitments made by both sides at this month's peace summit in Jordan.

U.S. national security advisor Condoleezza Rice has arrived in Israel for more talks aimed at moving Israelis and Palestinians forward on the "road map" plan for peace in the region. Reports say Ms. Rice headed immediately for the West Bank town of Jericho and a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

The peace plan envisions the creation of a Palestinian state next to Israel by the end of 2005.

Despite the positive developments, violence continued Friday, with Israeli forces killing three Palestinian militants and a civilian during a raid in Gaza. One Israeli soldier was killed during the raid, which resulted in the arrest of a Hamas militant, Adnan al-Ghul.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.