Powell contacts Bin Aleazer

The Israeli radio said on Tuesday that the US secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned the Israeli defense minister Benjamin Bin Aleazer.

The israeli minister said that during the telephone conversation that Israel is making tremendous efforts to abide by the cease- fire with the Palestinians, but he did not indicate to the responsibility of the Israeli forces for killing tens of Palestinians since the eruption of the cease- fire between the Israeli and the Palestinian sides.

The Israeli radio added that Bin Aleazer noted that the Palestinian Authority has abstained from arresting tens of Palestinian activists as requested by Israel.