Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - The Palestinians have pledged to end violence against the Israelis, and with that goal in mind, they will begin deploying their forces in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible, Palestinian Authority Minister Saeb Erekat said on Thursday.

Israel resumed security contacts with the Palestinian Authority late Wednesday, even as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's security cabinet approved preparations for large-scale "alternative" military operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

Palestinian radicals opposed to a negotiated settlement with Israel have stepped up the firing of Kassam rockets and mortar shells against the Israeli city of Sderot and Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip in the last two weeks.

There also has been an upsurge in Hizballah attacks emanating from southern Lebanon, which analysts say is connected to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' calls for an end to violence.

The renewal of security ties followed an order from Abbas for PA police to be deployed in the northern Gaza Strip to prevent the firing of Kassam rockets and mortar shells at Israeli targets.

"We stand ready to resume contacts with the Israelis," said Erekat by telephone. "We hope the Israelis will never resort to [cutting contacts]."

Top Israeli and Palestinian security officials met Wednesday evening at the Erez crossing in the Gaza Strip to coordinate security matters, in a meeting that Erekat called "constructive."

When asked if the PA security forces would begin deploying this week, Erekat replied, "We hope to begin deployment in coordination with Israel as soon as possible."

A statement issued after Sharon met with security ministers said that Israel is "monitoring the implementation of the steps that the Palestinian Authority has declared that it is taking against terrorism."

Asked if Abbas would be able to stop the violence, Erekat said the Palestinians were "obligated to stop violence against all Israelis," and that they would do so.

An Israeli government spokesman said on Wednesday that a good "first step" would be a cessation of Palestinian rocket and mortar attacks on Israeli settlements.

But the Israeli cabinet statement indicated there is still skepticism that the Palestinians are willing to use the power they need to carry out their obligations.

The head of the Palestinian police force in Gaza, Maj.-Gen. Sa'eb al-Ajez, was quoted by the Jerusalem Post on Thursday as saying that his police force would not arrest of terrorists or open fire on those launching rockets.

"In light of the severe events...the Cabinet approves the security establishment recommendations regarding alternative courses of action and response by the [army] and the security forces in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon," the cabinet statement said.

The cabinet instructed the security establishment to carry out preparations for "approved alternatives" and left the timing of such actions in the hands of Sharon and four other top ministers.

Sharon's office issued a separate statement clarifying that contacts with Palestinians were merely on a security level, not diplomatic.

Sharon suspended ties with Abbas last week after Palestinian terrorists attacked a key crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip, killing three Israeli civilians.