Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs this evening began a new round of talks in the Gaza Strip aimed at ending eight months of escalating violence, Palestinian general Amin al-Hindi said.
Gen Hindi, the head of intelligence for the West Bank and Gaza Strip, said he started the meeting with his Israeli counterparts at 17:30 (GMT) in the Gaza Strip.
Officials on both sides said their US-sponsored talks near the West Bank city of Ramallah late last night made no headway towards stopping the unrest - but they agreed to meet again today in the Gaza Strip.
Diplomatic efforts by new US envoy Mr William Burns this week have failed to coax the sides into implementing recommendations for ending the violence proposed by a commission led by former US senator Mr George Mitchell.
Israeli police and military today reported new Palestinian attacks, including the first bomb ever planted on the country's main highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
In the Gaza Strip, two mortar bombs were fired at the Jewish settlement of Rafiah Yam but fell short. In the West Bank, Israeli troops returned fire after being shot at north of Hebron, the army said. No casualties were reported in the incidents.
After several deaths yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon told parliament today: "Blood is boiling, and justly."
But he said Israeli forces would maintain the limited ceasefire in the West Bank and Gaza he announced last week - a policy of not firing unless attacked.
"I know that I am attacked because I announced a ceasefire but I say anyway that the responsibility I am charged with obliged me to do it from within a view of the larger picture," Mr Sharon said. Palestinians have dismissed the partial ceasefire as a sham.