The Israeli military is willing to suspend operations against Palestinian militants if they don't carry out attacks, Israel's defense minister said Sunday, signaling a change in position that could help pave the way toward a cease-fire after more than four years of fighting.

The defense minister, Shaul Mofaz, also said Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has received assurances from at least two militant groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, that they will halt attacks on Israel for at least a month.

During this time, a more detailed agreement, including the terms of possible political participation of the opposition groups, would be negotiated, Mofaz said.

He did not say how he learned about the cease-fire.

Palestinian officials denied that an agreement was in place, but confirmed that progress was being made. Abbas has been in Gaza since last Tuesday in efforts to persuade militant groups to halt their attacks - a deal that he hopes will lead to peace talks with Israel.

"The Palestinian dialogue is going on very well, but I cannot say that an agreement was concluded," said Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat. "We hope this will be concluded very soon and to this end I call upon the Israeli side to resume negotiations so we can co-ordinate a mutual declaration of cessation of violence."

A Hamas official said the group is ready for a test period of 30 days.

If Israel does not carry out military operations during this period, Hamas will consider an open-ended cease-fire, the official said.

But a second Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, denied any deal had been reached.

"The things that Mofaz says, that we've reached a cease-fire, is not true. We're still studying the subject," he said, adding that a final deal would depend on Israel halting its attacks on the group.
 
Despite the mixed signals, signs of a cease-fire were already in place.

With Israel's blessing, Abbas deployed about 3,000 Palestinian security forces in northern Gaza on Friday to prevent attacks on Israeli targets. The area - where militants frequently launch rockets into southern Israel - has been quiet since the deployment.

Mofaz spoke a day after a key group of militants, the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, said it is ready for a truce, provided Israel halts military operations, including arrest raids and targeted killings of wanted men. Al Aqsa has ties to Abbas' ruling Fatah Movement.

In the past, Israel refused to promise the militants amnesty, despite requests by Egyptian mediators who said they could not reach a truce deal without such an Israeli promise.

However, Mofaz said yesterday that a halt in Palestinian attacks could prompt the Israeli military to hold back.

Israel is giving recently elected Abbas - also known as Abu Mazen - a chance to complete his deal, Mofaz said.

"As long as there is quiet, there is no reason why we should act, certainly not while Abu Mazen is taking his first steps," Mofaz told Israel Radio.

"As far as we know, there is an agreement between Abu Mazen, Islamic Jihad and Hamas, a cease-fire for a certain period ... something like a month," Mofaz said.

(China Daily January 24, 2005)