Palestinian security forces began deploying along the northern Gaza Strip on Friday in an effort to curb Palestinian militant attacks.

Palestinian sources said some 3,000 security forces were deployed between the Karni crossing and Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.

The deployment came as hopes were rekindled that the long-stalled peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians would be renewed.

Newly-elected Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, under mounting pressure to fulfill his election promises to rein in anti-Israeli attacks, met with his security chiefs on Thursday on the deployment of security forces in the northern Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday, the Israeli security cabinet headed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon decided unanimously to renew contacts with the new Palestinian leadership after Palestinian officials revealed the deployment plan.

Meanwhile, the cabinet also instructed the Israel Defense Forces to plan for a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip should the Qassam rockets be fired anew on Israeli targets.

Sharon froze all contacts with the Palestinian leadership last week after a Palestinian attack on the Karni crossing between Israel and the northern Gaza Strip killed six Israeli civilians.

Israel has threatened to carry out a major reprisal operation in Gaza but has so far held off to give Abbas time to take action against militants.