Palestinians hold security talks with Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian prime minister Mahmud Abbas were expected in Washington at the end of the month for meetings with US President George W. Bush which could give peace efforts new momentum.

Despite earlier uncertainty due to deep divisions within the Palestinian leadership, Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz met Palestinian minister of state for security affairs Mohammad Dahlan Thursday evening at the Erez crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

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Mofaz pressed Dahlan "to act more quickly against radical groups so the peace process can continue," Israeli public radio reported.

"The meeting was short and serious," a Palestinian security official said. "The issue of the release of all (Palestinian) prisoners was addressed."

The US-backed "roadmap" for peace had been picking up momentum after a Palestinian truce announcement and the Israeli army's withdrawal from much of Gaza and the West Bank city of Bethlehem, but the process has since stumbled on the issue of the release of Palestinian prisoners.

The Palestinians demand the release of all 6,000 prisoners detained by the Jewish srtate, but Israel has agreed to free only 350 and in any case would not release any members of the radical groups Hamas or Islamic Jihad.

Meanwhile, an Israeli official said Sharon had been invited to the White House for talks with US President George W. Bush at the end of July.

Israeli public radio reported Abbas could be in Washington at around the same time in a bid to break the deadlock in the implementation of the roadmap.

An Israeli political commentator said on television Thursday that the Jewish state could possibly review its criteria on release of the prisoners to include members of radical groups who had not participated in any killings.

But the commentator said no prisoner releases were likely before the next meeting of Sharon and Abbas, who was forced to cancel talks planned for last Wednesday following sharp criticism of his policy within the Palestinian leadership.