Gaza ban threatens peace deal

JERUSALEM - Israel has reimposed a travel ban on the Gaza Strip, despite its pledge to visiting United States Secretary of State Colin Powell for humanitarian gestures towards the Palestinians as part of a new peace plan.

After talks with Powell yesterday, the Israeli Government had agreed to release 180 detained Palestinians and allow 25,000 Palestinian labourers to enter Israel, security sources said.

The moves were apparently in response to Powell's request that Israel and the Palestinians start practical, conciliatory steps even before Israel endorses the "road map" peace plan, which aims for an independent Palestinian state in 2005.

But shortly after the Israeli measures were announced, the Army, citing security concerns, reinstated a ban on Palestinian travel in and out of the Gaza Strip, effectively freezing a decision to allow Gaza labourers to travel in and out.

It was not immediately clear how long the ban would stay in effect.

Earlier, Israeli troops killed two Palestinian militants in southern Gaza when they tried to lay a landmine against advancing tanks, the Army and witnesses said.

Israeli political sources said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was likely to meet Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas this week to discuss the plan.

They said security talks had secretly resumed between the sides last week.

- REUTERS