US eyes steps to ease Israel, Palestine row

The document, published Friday in the Haaretz newspaper, is in line with a more hands-on approach to peacemaking by the US in recent weeks. The deadlines are not binding.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was expected to return to the region to discuss the deadlines with both sides, but the Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said no date has been set.

Erekat said the Palestinians welcome the document and would study it carefully. "I believe that this is the right approach," Erekat said. "This is transferring words to deeds."

An official in the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said some of the ideas contained in the document were already at various stages of implementation, citing relaxed restrictions at the Karni cargo crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip. "There are a few Israel will not be able to address at present because of security concerns," the official added, without elaborating.