"During a meeting held on [Wednesday] in Gaza, an understanding was reached between Israel and the Palestinian Authority concerning a number of steps, on the basis of the understandings of Sharm el-Sheikh, which are supposed to bring about a renewal of the security cooperation and a cessation of the violence and incitement.

"This understanding has brought about a freezing of the responsive measures that were discussed tonight [Wednesday] by the cabinet, for the purpose of utilising the chance to stop the violence.

"Participating in the meeting on the Israeli side were minister Shimon Peres and bureau chief, advocate Gilead Sher. Prime Minister Barak thanked minister Peres and expressed his hope that this would bring an end to the violence."