The Palestinian security forces beganto deploy 2,000 troops in southern Gaza Friday under orders from Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Palestinian National Authority, said Palestinian security sources.

The deployment, under an agreement reached with Israel, will help curb militant attacks against nearby Israeli settlements and forces, the sources added.

On Wednesday, Israeli and Palestinian security officials met inGaza twice to arrange for the deployment in southern Gaza.

The move, together with the deployment in northern Gaza last week, was widely seen as a gesture from Abbas to resume peace talks with Israel.

In response to a series of actions taken by the new Palestinianauthority, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday that he was "very satisfied" with Abbas' efforts to restore calm and that conditions were right to make a "historic breakthrough" on peace.

Source: Xinhua