‘Train more troops’

TEL AVIV – Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz demanded from the Palestinians on Wednesday to start training their security forces so they would be able to stop Palestinians from launching attacks or looting settler homes during Israel’s upcoming Gaza pullout.

In a meeting with PA Interior Minister Nasser Yousef, Mofaz said Israel would pass on its timetable on the pullout, set to begin in August, to the Palestinians.

The two figures also agreed to create three coordination channels ahead of the upcoming pullout. The channels will start operating as early as next week.

The first channel of communication would be between the ministers themselves, the second channel would be headed by a senior IDF official and other security officials, and a third channel would consist of officials on the ground.

During the session, three more mortar shells landed in the southern Gaza Strip. No injuries or damage were reported in the latest attack.

Gaza terrorists have increased anti-Israeli attacks in recent days despite a de facto cease-fire declared by several terrorist groups in March by request of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who declared a truce with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at a summit in February.

Palestinian sources said the two figures discussed the increase in violence and that Yousef tried to convince Mofaz to implement further understandings reached by Sharon and Abbas at the summit, such as transferring control of more West Bank towns to Palestinian security forces.

IAF targets terrorists 

Earlier Wednesday, the Palestinian Interior Ministry said PA security forces were able to thwart several attempts to launch missiles and rockets at Israeli targets. According to the statement, the forces prevented armed Palestinians from targeting northern Gaza Strip settlements.

A statement by the ministry said the armed terrorists clashed with PA forces, assaulted them, and even attempted to abduct them. However, it said it would show determination against any attempt to violate the law and hurt Palestinian security officers.

Earlier Wednesday, the Air Force launched a missile strike against terrorists in Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza who carried mortar bombs in their vehicles, causing no casualties. Terrorists killed three people, a Chinese laborer and two Palestinian farm workers, in a mortar bomb attack on the settlement of Ganei Tal Tuesday.

Abbas said the IAF airstrike was "injust" and aimed to disrupt the cease-fire.

The government has in recent weeks conducted talks with Palestinian officials in a bid to coordinate with them parts of the upcoming withdrawal from Gaza.

However, Sharon has said no negotiations on a permanent peace deal or Palestinian statehood could be renewed unless Abbas rein in and disarm terrorists and dismantle their organizations, as dictated in the U.S.-backed “road map” peace plan.