GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Israeli and Palestinian leaders met yesterday to discuss ways to stop terrorists from firing rockets and mortars in Gaza, heading off the possibility of a large-scale Israeli invasion to curb the surging violence.

The decision came as the top Palestinian security chief ordered a deployment of troops along the Gaza-Israel frontier to stop the attacks – the first concrete steps to rein in militants since the election of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel broke off contacts with Mr. Abbas’ government after a January 13 attack on a vital Gaza-Israel crossing point killed six Israelis. But the ban came under criticism from America, the United Nations, Egypt and Jordan – and it lasted only a few days.

After a meeting of his Security Cabinet yesterday, Prime Minister Sharon’s office issued a statement saying “a security meeting will be held at the field commander level to coordinate security steps.”

Israeli officials said the meeting convened at the Erez crossing between northern Gaza and Israel. Brigadier General Aviv Kochavi, representing the Israelis, met Palestinian public security director Major General Moussa Arafat. Israel Army Radio reported that Mr. Arafat presented a detailed plan to deploy hundreds of armed police in the border area to halt the rocket fire, and Mr. Kochavi was to deliver it to Israel’s defense minister.

The sudden turnabout defused escalating tension that appeared to be leading toward an Israeli invasion, clashes with Palestinian gunmen, and possibly dozens of casualties.

Israel’s Security Cabinet was considering military action to stop the barrages of mortars and rockets aimed at Jewish settlements and Israeli towns just outside Gaza, when the Palestinian leadership called for security talks toward cooperation in ending the violence, officials said.

The appeal, coupled with the decision by the Palestinian police commander to deploy forces along the border to stop the rocket attacks, was enough for Israel’s new, more moderate government to put off a military strike and give renewed talks a chance.

Dalia Itzik, a Cabinet minister from the dovish Labor Party, said Israeli pressure led to Palestinian pledges for action. “It’s good that they’re going to talk,” she told Army Radio. Mr. Sharon brought Labor into his coalition government to provide crucial backing for his Gaza pullout plan, and its presence is likely to moderate government policy.

However, the Security Cabinet also approved military action if talks fail. Sharon noted both options on yesterday.

“Israel is prepared to cooperate with the Palestinians on condition that there is no terrorism,” Sharon said in a meeting with a top E.U. official, according to a statement from his office. “If the Palestinians take the right steps, we will be able to cooperate and coordinate on certain matters regarding the disengagement plan.”

But he warned that Israel is not prepared to take losses because of a lack of Palestinian cooperation, implying that if talks fail, Israel will take action.

Gaza strongman Mohammed Dahlan, who is close to Mr. Abbas, said restoring calm depends on Israel, not the Palestinians. “We hope that the peace process will have a chance and we hope that Israel will initiate positive initiatives by stopping the aggression and the killing,” he told reporters after a meeting of leaders from Abbas’ Fatah Party.