The Israeli security cabinet headed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon decided unanimously on Wednesday to renew contacts with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

The decision revived hopes for peacemaking efforts after Sharon froze all contacts with the PNA last week after a Palestinian attack on the Karni crossing between Israel and the northern Gaza Strip killed six Israeli civilians.

However, Sharon's office said contacts would be restricted to security officials for now, with no contacts with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on diplomatic issues until the latter takes real steps to stop "terrorist acts".

For his part, Abbas held secret talks with leaders of some militant groups in Gaza City on Tuesday night in a bid to dissuade them from anti-Israeli attacks.

Abbas, the newly-elected Palestinian leader, arrived in Gaza Tuesday to hold talks with militant groups, mainly the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (Holy War), to reach an understanding on halting attacks against Israel.

After the talks, Hamas said its meeting with Abbas was "positive", but stopped short of coming up with a final deal on stopping anti-Israeli attacks.

"The atmosphere of the meeting was positive. We exchanged viewsof common concerns to serve the interests of our people and keep national unity," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told reporters.

On ceasefire, Abu Zuhri said "these points were raised in the meeting and will be addressed within the framework of rearranging the internal Palestinian situation."

"We listened to Abu Mazen (Abbas) and told him we will study these points and give him an answer soon," the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Nafez Assam, a spokesman for the Islamic Jihad, said Wednesday in an interview with Cairo-based radio "the Voice of Arabs" that the Jihad movement does not oppose any measures that would ensure stable conditions in the Palestinian territories.

Apart from the two main factions, some other groups also expressed optimism Wednesday over the ongoing dialogue with Abbas. "The internal Palestinian situation is comfortable and gives ushope," said Mohamed Dahlan, a heavyweight in Gaza, adding that there were chances to reach peace and achieve calmness with Israel.

As the talks are going underway, violence continues in Gaza. Palestinian militants detonated a roadside bomb near an Israeli armored bulldozer in northern Gaza on Wednesday, wounding three Israeli soldiers, Israel's Army Radio reported.

Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility for the attack against the bulldozer which was razing Palestinian lands near the Jewish settlement of Nesanete.

Also on Wednesday, two Palestinian militants were killed by Israeli soldiers east of Gaza City near the borders with Israel, Israeli security sources said.

Israeli army said the two were shot dead as they were spotted approaching the border fence, with rifles in hand.

To rein in anti-Israeli attacks, the Palestinian security forces have decided to redeploy along the borders between Israel and the Gaza Strip

"We are executing instructions by Palestinian President MahmoudAbbas and the Palestinian leadership to restore calmness and implement law and order," said Abdel Razaq el Majayda, director general of the Palestinian national security forces.

His remarks came after Abbas said the PNA would execute soon a security plan to achieve calmness in the area and stop anti-Israeli attacks, an election promise of the new leader.

Source: Xinhua