Palestinian, Israeli Security Officials Hold Meeting in Gaza Strip

Israel, Palestinians Talk Security Amid Violence

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Palestinian and Israeli security officials held a meeting Wednesday night near the Erez crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel, a senior Palestinian official said.

The meeting, held under the auspices of the United States, was expected to discuss ways of implementing the Mitchell report, Director of the Palestinian Intelligence Amin Al-Hindi told reporters shortly before the meeting.

"The Palestinian side will ask Israel to implement all signed accords and the recommendations of the international fact-finding committee on Palestinian-Israeli violence, headed by former U.S. Senator George Mitchell," Hindi said.

Wednesday's security meeting was originally planned to be held several hours earlier. It was postponed due to a car bomb attack in the northern Israeli coastal city of Netanya. Six Israelis were injured in the attack.

"Today's meeting will not be successful if it is not held as part of the political settlement," Palestinian Minister of Local Government Saeb Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio before the meeting.

On the contrary of earlier reports, U.S. envoy for the Middle East William Burns did not submit any proposals to the Palestinian National Authority on Israel's plan regarding the interim stage commitments, Erekat said.

Tuesday evening, Palestinian and Israeli security officials met in the West Bank city of Ramallah with the participation of representatives of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, but failed to reach any results.

During the three-hour meeting, the Israeli side underscored the necessity of a ceasefire, while the Palestinians stressed the implementation of the Mitchell report, Palestinian sources said.

The Palestinians also demanded Israel to adopt practical measures, including removal of road blocks between Palestinian towns and halting assassination of Palestinian security members.