Mideast talks held amid violence

The mother of the latest suicide bomber holds a picture of her son

TEL AVIV, Israel -- Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs have held talks in a bid to curb violence that has racked the Mideast over the past two weeks.

Palestinian West Bank security chiefs and their Israeli counterparts attended U.S.-hosted talks outside Tel Aviv Monday, with the possibility of ending some curbs on Palestinians' movements.

"It was decided to make an effort to lower the level of violence and improve security co-operation," the Israeli army said after the meeting.

VIDEO CNN's Mike Hanna has more on the increasing violence in the Mideast Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) At a checkpoint near a Jewish settlement in Gaza, CNN's Ben Wedeman shows how Palestinian traffic has been slowed by Israel Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     AUDIO CNN’s Jerrold Kessel: International pressure for peace 650K/60.secs. AIFF or WAV sound

Similar talks had been held on Saturday while further talks between low level regional commanders will take place on Friday to "translate the principles into specific actions."

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told the NewsHour show on Monday: "Hopefully, I think, there's a little bit of traction now starting to take place as people see that we can't keep doing what we have seen being done in recent weeks."

Other efforts are being made to stem the attacks which have occurred in the West Bank, Gaza and within Israel itself -- and get peace talks back in focus.

A joint Egyptian-Jordanian proposal is still on the agenda, according to Israeli ministers.

Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said: "It requires several changes, which we are prepared to propose."

Parallel diplomatic efforts are being conducted by Spanish and Belgium foreign ministers who are in Israel at a time when the European Union is trying to achieve diplomatic progress.

Also a United Nations envoy is shuttling between the Israeli and Palestinian sides

CNN's Jerrold Kessel said the two Mideast sides are "at a crossroads."

They can go down the road of further disastrous confrontation, he said, or edge back towards the negotiating table.

Meanwhile, Palestinians have claimed Israeli troops shot at mourners attending the funeral of a policeman killed by Israeli fire last week.

Hospital officials said a 14-year-old boy died in the gunfire at the Khan Younis refugee camp.

In the latest Palestinian attack on Israelis, a car bomb packed with nails exploded on Monday in Or Yehuda, near Tel Aviv, injuring eight people.

The Palestinian Islamic Hamas group has also claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack which also killed a 53-year-old Jewish doctor over the weekend.

Gunfire was heard during Monday night in the West Bank and Gaza, including around Gaza International Airport, Palestinian police said.

The Israeli army said soldiers had not targeted the airport but had come under fire from gunmen in the area and had returned shots.

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israeli Prime Minister's Office
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Permanent Mission of Palestine to the U.N.
U.S. State Dept: Near eastern affairs
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