The Islamic militant group Hamas has rejected a U.S. proposal aimed at easing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.
An Hamas spokesman spoke out against the plan Saturday, echoing remarks from exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal.
Mashaal had told a rally Friday in Syria that the plan is a formula to have Israeli roadblocks lifted in exchange for Palestinians to end their resistance against Israel.
The United States said the plan contained "informal benchmarks" that would allow the parties to track progress on security and freedom-of-movement issues.
It includes calling for Israel to ease travel restrictions at West Bank and Gaza crossing points, and for the Palestinians to take steps against arms smuggling and militant rocket attacks against Israel.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Palestinians welcomed the document.
An official in the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said some of the ideas were already being implemented, while others could not be carried out because of security concerns.
In the Gaza Strip Saturday, Palestinian militants fired three rockets at southern Israel, damaging a building in the town of Sderot.
Islamic Jihad said the attack was to avenge the deaths of three of its militants who were killed by the Israeli army Friday near the West Bank town of Jenin.
In other news, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, is meeting Saturday with Palestinian officials in the West Bank, including moderate President Mahmoud Abbas.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
