After a long hiatus, security consultations between Israeli and PA are resuming once again. A meeting between IDF Gen. Amos Gilad and the PA's newly-appointed Muhammad Dahlan - who is responsible for those PA security agencies that Arafat does not control - is scheduled for later this week. The meeting is designed to prepare the way for meetings next week between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Abu Mazen of the PA, and between Defense Minister Mofaz and Dahlan. It will be recalled that Dahlan was responsible for the bombing of the bus in Kfar Darom over two years ago, in which two teachers were killed and three siblings lost legs. He is considered to be close with Arafat.



U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns met with Abu Mazen in Ramallah today; Arafat was not invited, but two of his representatives - Nabil Shaath and Saeb Erekat - were present. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who is planning to visit the region next week, said last night that the beginning of the Road Map's implementation will obligate Israel stop building in Judea and Samaria, and its completion will obligate it to dismantle some - but not all - of the existing communities.