JERUSALEM, March 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz will meet Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas at the Erez crossing Tuesday evening, in an attempt to break the deadlock in the security talks between the sides, local newspaper Haaretz reported on its online edition.

    One of the main issues on the meeting will be the handing over of security responsibility for the West Bank cities to the Palestinians.

    Israeli military sources have denied reports in the Palestinian media that the PA would assume Tuesday responsibility for Tul Karm, about 40 km northeast of Tel Aviv.

    Arrangements for the handover had yet to be completed, and the matter would be discussed between Mofaz and Abbas Tuesday evening, the sources said.

    After a Palestinian suicide bomber killed five Israelis in Tel Aviv on Feb. 25, Israel froze measures agreed on at last month's Sharm el-Sheikh summit -- the handover of five West Bank cities to Palestinian security control and the release of 400 more prisoners, in addition to the 500 freed last month.

    Jericho, which is located between Jerusalem and Dead Sea, was supposed to be the first of the West Bank cities slated to be transferred to PA control, but there have been disputes between theIsrael Defense Forces and the PA over the size of the area from which IDF troops would withdraw.

    The PA then suggested that it assume security power over Tul Karm first. Enditem