Powell talks with Arafat, Sharon

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Trying to make sure violence in the Middle East does not flare anew, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell talked by phone Friday with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, officials said.

Powell praised Arafat for his efforts to implement a cease-fire and halt Palestinian militants' attacks on Israelis, Arafat spokesman Nabil Abu Rudieneh said Friday. Israeli officials had no immediate comment Friday night about what Powell and Sharon discussed.

Powell told Arafat on Friday that there had been "improvement on the ground" since the Palestinian leader two weeks ago called for an end to attacks against Israelis, said Rudieneh, speaking from Ramallah in the West Bank. Powell also encouraged him to do more promote the calm, the spokesman said.

After a speech by Arafat earlier this month, the Islamic radical group Hamas said it would suspend suicide bombings and other attacks against Israelis. Islamic Jihad, said it would do nothing to damage Palestinian unity -- a statement widely regarded as a signal it would stop launching suicide attacks.

Powell promised he would continue encouraging Israel to reciprocate in the peace process, plus help both sides get back to the peace table, Rudieneh said. A senior Bush administration official confirmed what was said.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said Arafat asked Powell to intercede on the Palestinians' behalf in his talks with Israeli officials. Powell replied that the United States would continue working with both parties, but emphasized to Arafat that he needed to keep the Palestinians peaceful, the official said.

Also Friday, Arafat and Palestinian Authority leaders urged the Bush administration to send Anthony Zinni, the U.S. special envoy to the Mideast, back to the region as soon as possible, officials said. Zinni was called back from the Middle East earlier this month for consultations in Washington after a failed truce mission.

Both Israel and the Palestinians are expecting Zinni's return to the region next month. There was no immediate response from Israel to the Palestinian request.

Earlier Friday, the Israeli government lifted its closure of the Bethlehem. Authorities characterized it as a goodwill gesture for the Christmas holiday.

Lifting the closure would allow Christians to move more freely as they celebrate the Orthodox Christmas on January 6, said the Israel Defense Forces. But it also said Arafat, who was blocked from attending Christmas services on December 25, would still not be allowed to travel to Bethlehem.

Though in recent days, the level of violence in the region has abated, some Israeli officials think not enough has been done.

"The cease-fire will come only if the Palestinians cooperate," Gen. Amos Malka, the IDF's outgoing defense chief, said in an interview broadcast by Israel Radio. "This is not the situation so far."

Overnight, Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian gunman in northern Gaza near Karni-Netzarim Road. He was armed with an anti-tank missile and an assault rifle, and had an explosives belt around his waist, the IDF said.

Israeli authorities said they believe the man was an intended suicide bomber because of the explosives and his route, which took him in the direction of a Jewish settlement. Palestinian sources identified him as Mahmoud al Bourie, 23, an Islamic Jihad activist.

-- CNN's Rula Amin and Elise Labott contributed to this report.