Israel and the Palestinians resumed political contacts yesterday and finalised a deal to deploy thousands of Palestinian security forces to curb attacks in southern and central Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon froze all contacts with the Palestinians in mid-January after a suicide attack killed six Israelis at the Karni crossing between Gaza and Israel. The move cast a major shadow across Mahmoud Abbas' inauguration as Palestinian Authority president the following day, but Sharon has since been impressed by Abbas's efforts to end the bloodshed.After authorising security contacts last week, Sharon dispatched his senior adviser Dov Weisglass for talks with Palestinian negotiations minister Saeb Erakat yesterday. "We discussed in great depth and detail several political and security issues, mainly preparations for a summit between the Palestinian and Israeli leadership," Erakat said. The two would meet again next week for further preparations, he added. Sharon's office said "contacts were renewed after positive developments in the Palestinian Authority and the efforts to prevent terror". Abbas praised the meeting for having "very good negotiations on every issue."