Israeli Defense Minister Shaoul Mofaz hailed on Tuesday the positive measures taken by president of the Palestinian Authority Mahmud Abbas, hoping that a dialogue would begin as early as possible between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

"We have seen the positive measures that Abou Mazen (Mahmud Abbas) has taken these days, notably the negotiations between AbouMazen and the Palestinian terrorist groups for ceasefire and the fact that he deployed security forces in the north Gaza Strip," Mofaz declared after meeting with his French counterpart Michele Alliot-Marie in Paris.

"I hope he will also deploy additional forces in southern Gaza," Mofaz said.

He added he hoped for "a start as soon as possible to a dialogue between Abu Mazen (Abbas) and (Israeli) Prime Minister (Ariel) Sharon, with security as its main subject."

"We are ready to hand over responsibilities to them in Palestinian towns in the Gaza Strip, and also to examine how donorcountries could, together with Israel, provide support to the Palestinian people to improve their economic situation," Mofaz told journalists.

Source: Xinhua