Israel steps close to ceasefire deal
Israel decided to resume diplomatic contacts with the Palestinian Authority today after a two-week freeze and agreed to suspend targeted killings of militants, taking two more steps toward a ceasefire and a resumption of peace talks.
The relative calm of the past week was marred by a brief burst of violence in the Gaza Strip today, including Palestinian rocket fire and the killing of a three-year-old Palestinian girl, apparently by Israeli army fire.
