General Amos Gilad, the coordinator for government activities in the Palestinian territories, was appointed to head the committee, said a statement.

The committee will be in charge of discussing with the Palestinians the security chapters of the so-called roadmap which was presented to the Palestinian and Israeli prime ministers on Wednesday.

In the first phase of the plan, the Palestinians and Israelis are expected "to end violence, terrorism, and incitement through restructured and effective Palestinian security services".

The leaderships are expected to issue unequivocal calls for ceasefire and the Israeli army is requested to withdraw from territories reoccupied since the beginning of the Palestinian uprising in September 2000.

Among the measures which should involve the newly created Israeli committee is the reactivation of joint security patrols with the Palestinians.

SPACE.WIRE