SDEROT, Israel Jan 23 (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Sunday acknowledged a respite in rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip by Palestinian militants who have indicated a willingness to declare a conditional ceasefire.
Sources close to talks between Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and armed factions such as Hamas confirmed that a "cooling down" period was now in place after some 2,500 security forces were positioned across the territory.
"After a long period of Palestinian terror and intensive action on the part of our security forces against terrorism, there is now quiet," Sharon said at the start of a cabinet meeting specially convened in the southern town of Sderot which has been a frequent target of attacks.
"We do not know whether a real change has occurred in the situation. We hope so. We are following what is happening."
But Sharon said Israel would not hesitate to do "all that is necessary" and implement plans for a large-scale invasion of Gaza if the attacks resumed.
His Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz had earlier expressed belief that Hamas and its smaller rival Islamic Jihad had agreed to a suspension of their operations.
Both organisations swiftly denied the claims by Mofaz but said a truce could be called if there was reciprocal action from Israel.
"Mofaz's statement that we have reached a ceasefire is incorrect," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told AFP.
"Our position is that the Israeli occupation should first commit itself to a ceasefire. After that we have no objections about dealing with this subject positively."
Abu Zuhri confirmed that the movement had spoken at length with Abbas on Saturday about what he called a "cooling down" period.
"The issue of a cooling down period was proposed by Abu Mazen and there were long discussions concerning this issue," said the spokesman.
"The movement confirmed its readiness to study this issue seriously but there can be no cooling down without a price being paid" by Israel.
Israel had to give "a clear commitment to stop their aggressions against our people", Abu Zuhri said as he also conditioned any ceasefire on the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
His comments were echoed by Khaled al-Batsh, one of Jihad's leaders in Gaza, who said that the "ball is now in Israel's court".
Any ceasefire agreement was conditional on "the release of the prisoners, and an end to the assassinations and incursions", Batsh added.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, another militant faction linked to Abbas's Fatah faction, said Saturday that its members groups were prepared to halt attacks, but again on condition that prisoners be freed and Israel ends its military operations in the occupied territories.
A source close to the talks between Abbas and the factions confirmed that there had been an agreement to curb attacks on a temporary basis.
"It's clear that there has been a cooling down on the ground and it seems that there is a positive attitude from the factions to give things a chance, but this depends on the Israeli response," he told AFP.
"The cooling off period is in existence now... But a cooling off is one thing and a ceasefire is another thing."
Around 2,500 Palestinian security forces have been deployed around the Gaza Strip in the last few days with orders from Abbas to end the attacks. The army says there have been no reports of rocket attacks since Wednesday.
Despite the comments from Hamas and Jihad, Mofaz was confident that Abbas had followed up his action on the ground to end the attacks by securing a commitment from the militants to lay down their weapons.
"An agreement on a ceasefire was completed between Abu Mazen and terrorist organisations including Hamas and Islamic Jihad," Mofaz said on military radio.
"This agreement was sealed in exchange for the future integration, notably of Hamas, in the Palestinian political institutions," Mofaz added.
"The agreement constitutes a positive sign and a success for Abu Mazen, we are pleased with it but must closely follow the way the terrorist organisations conduct themselves on the ground."
Abbas meanwhile was holding a meeting with security officials in Gaza City on Sunday before heading back to his offices in the West Bank town of Ramallah. Officials have previously said that he would not leave Gaza until he had a ceasefire agreement in the bag.
01/23/2005 13:34 GMT - AFP