Sign of thaw as Israelis, Palestinians resume talks

JERUSALEM -- Israel and the Palestinian Authority resumed security contacts Wednesday, the first sign of a thaw after Israel's decision last week to cut ties with Yasser Arafat's administration.

In another first, the Palestinian Authority announced that it detained 15 of its own security officers on suspicion of taking part in attacks against Israelis.

The developments hinted at an easing of tensions after a spike of bloodletting in a conflict that has been going on nearly 15 months.

The 15 arrested officers are activists in groups affiliated with Arafat's Fatah movement, Palestinian security officials said. The groups have continued to target Israelis, despite Arafat's order in a speech broadcast Sunday to stop such attacks, which the Palestinian leader called "terrorist activity."

According to Palestinian security officials, 180 suspected militants have been arrested since Arafat ordered a crackdown on Hamas and Islamic Jihad, militant groups responsible for dozens of attacks, including suicide bombings.

Hassan Youssef, a Hamas official in the West Bank, denied a report quoting him Wednesday as saying that Hamas was considering halting suicide bombing attacks. He said he made no such statement.

Also Wednesday, Palestinian security officials said they shut down two Gaza workshops where mortar bombs were made, and arrested three people.

After a Palestinian attack on a bus last week left 10 Israelis dead and 30 injured, Israel's Cabinet blamed Arafat, declared him "irrelevant" and stopped all contacts with his administration, embarking on a series of military operations in Palestinian territories, including incursions and airstrikes. In the last week, Israel has arrested dozens of suspects in raids that also resulted in the deaths of 13 Palestinians.

Call from Powell

Secretary of State Colin Powell called Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon late Tuesday to prod them back toward talks.

The security commanders met in an undisclosed location. Before the meeting, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said Israel would pull troops back from areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip where the Palestinian Authority takes credible action against suspected militants.

Peres said Israel suggested the Palestinians begin with Jenin or Nablus in the northern West Bank, where Hamas and Islamic Jihad are strong.

"Any place they will take over, Israel will immediately ease restrictions and closures," Peres said. After the bus attack, Israel further tightened its choke hold on Palestinian towns, cutting main roads and preventing Palestinians from moving freely.