Israel eases military closures ahead of summit

2.00pm

JERUSALEM - Israel said it was easing military closures on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, making a goodwill gesture to the Palestinians before a three-way summit with United States President George W Bush.

The army made clear this weekend Israeli forces would remain in the Palestinian areas, but Palestinians with permits would be allowed into Israel to work each day.

"The political establishment approved tonight the removing of the full closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip starting from midnight," the army said in a statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon offered to ease the closures at talks on Thursday with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas that both sides portrayed positively.

A full closure was imposed on the Palestinian territories in May after a wave of suicide bombings by Palestinian militants spearheading a 32-month-old uprising for an independent state.

Israel says its military measures in the West Bank and Gaza, seized in the 1967 Middle East war, are needed to stop the suicide bombings. The Palestinians say they are a collective punishment.

Abbas and Sharon meet Bush in the Jordanian city of Aqaba on Wednesday to discuss implementation of an international "road map" to peace.

Israel Radio said a group of Israeli government officials was leaving for Aqaba on Sunday to work out security and logistics for the summit.

Visiting Poland, Bush said in his weekly radio address that he would do all he could to move the Israeli and Palestinian leaders towards an agreement.

"The work ahead will require difficult decisions and leadership, but there is no other choice," said Bush, who is taking a more hands-on approach to Middle East peacemaking after the Iraq war.

Under the international road map, drawn up by the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia, the two sides are to take reciprocal steps leading to a Palestinian state in 2005.

US Assistant Secretary of State William Burns met Palestinian leaders including Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Saturday to prepare for Wednesday's summit.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, who attended Saturday's meeting, said Burns was helping the two sides hammer out a statement that would conclude the summit.

Abbas told al-Jazeera satellite television the two sides will pledge to cease hostile actions, stop the incitement and recognise each other. He said he expected Palestinian militants to halt attacks on Israelis within 20 days, well after the summit on Wednesday.

It was not immediately clear if the truce deal would satisfy Israel, which wants Abbas to crush militants.

Palestinians fear a harsh crackdown by Abbas could spark a civil war. They also argue that their security forces have been weakened by Israeli army sweeps, making the task more difficult.

In new violence on Saturday, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian near the West Bank city of Jenin. The army said he was killed as he laid an explosive charge. Palestinian witnesses said soldiers fired on two students on their way to college, killing one.

- REUTERS