Israel on Sunday hammered home its demand for a Palestinian crackdown on resistance men as a condition for implementing a peace "road map" as it prepared for possible pressure at a U.S.-British summit to accept the plan. "The entire move depends on whether it indeed transpires that Abu Mazen is capable of wielding real authority to stop terrorist activities," Israeli cabinet minister Ehud Olmert said, referring to the new Palestinian prime minister.

Olmert spoke on Israel Radio hours before Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was due to convene a limited forum of cabinet members to discuss the "road map" drawn by the United States, United Nations , European Union and Russia.

The long-awaited proposal, drafted against the backdrop of a 30-month-old Palestinian uprising, envisages a Palestinian state by 2005 and security for Israel, along with a freeze in Jewish settlement expansion on occupied land in the West Bank and Gaza.

Such a settlement freeze could shake the foundations of the right-wing government Sharon formed after the Israeli election in January.

Secretary of State Colin Powell told anxious European leaders on Thursday Washington would unveil the "road map" once a new reformist Palestinian cabinet took office and promote it without changes from either side.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair , who has battled internal dissent over Britain's role in the U.S.-led Iraq war, has urged President Bush to present the plan quickly.

The two leaders are to meet in Northern Ireland on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the Iraq conflict and Middle East peace moves.

Dov Weisglass, a top Sharon aide, insisted in an Israel Radio interview on Saturday the Israeli government has "a clear understanding with the American administration whereby we will be allowed to voice our responses (to the road map)."

Weisglass, expected to travel to Washington later this week to discuss the plan with U.S. officials, said "there will be no compromise" on Israeli security in putting the proposal in motion.

He said Israel, which refuses to talk with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat over what it alleges is his support for anti-Israeli violence, was interested in negotiating with Abu Mazen. Arafat has denied fomenting violence.

PALESTINIAN GUNMAN SHOT DEAD

In West Bank violence on Saturday, Israeli occupation troops killed a Palestinian resistance man who fired on a Jewish settlement near the town of Hebron the occupation army said.

A U.S. peace activist, Brian Avery, was severely wounded in the face in another incident.

Witnesses said Avery, a member of the International Solidarity Movement to Protect the Palestinian People, was hit by an apparent ricochet bullet from an Israeli armored vehicle while in the streets of the West Bank city of Jenin during a curfew.

Israeli occupation army sources said the armored vehicle was exchanging fire with a Palestinian resistance man .

At least 1,968 Palestinians and 727 Israelis have been killed since the Palestinian uprising began in September 2000 after peace talks stalled.

Last month, American peace activist Rachel Corrie was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza's Rafah refugee camp, frequent scene of clashes between the occupation army and resistance men.

The occupation army called the incident a "regrettable accident." The ISM said Corrie was run over deliberately.

PHOTO CAPTION

Palestinian doctors treat a wounded Palestinian at Al-Aqsa hospital following clashes with Israeli occupation troops in Massader village near Deir el Balah southern Gaza Strip , Sunday April 6, 2003. Israeli occupation troops took up positions on rooftops in Massader village and called from loudspeakers for the men to gather in the village square while occupation soldiers entered houses in an apparent search for resistance men . Palestinians use the village, which is in central Gaza, to fire mortar bombs at Jewish settlements in the area, the Israeli occupation army said. A Palestinian official said Israeli occupation troops shot dead two Palestinian youths and wounded 22 during the clashes. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)