RAMALLAH, West Bank – The Palestinian Arab leadership banned civilians from carrying weapons and indicated yesterday it would appoint a new interior minister known for his hard-line stance against terrorists, the latest in a series of steps to stop violence that have brought rare praise from Prime Minister Sharon.

The decree banning Palestinian Arab civilians from holding weapons was a gesture toward Israel and America, which have long demanded the disarming of terrorist groups responsible for attacks that have killed more than 1,000 Israelis. The ban on weapons signaled the Palestinian Authority’s aim to take control of the streets from terrorists, who often overtly brandish their automatic rifles and other arms and who have surpassed the authority’s power in some neighborhoods and refugee camps.

While the Palestinian Arabs were seeking a joint cease-fire declaration with Israel, the Palestinian Arab security forces prepared for their next step to impose order: deploying into the volatile southern Gaza Strip to prevent rocket attacks into Israel. A similar deployment in northern Gaza last week has been effective in stopping terrorists from firing rockets at Israelis.

Adding to a new wave of optimism for peace after four years of fighting, Palestinian Arab leader Mahmoud Abbas won rare praise from Mr. Sharon and visiting American envoy William Burns for his efforts to halt violence. The two sides are trying to arrange a Sharon-Abbas summit in the next two weeks.

“I believe that the conditions are now ripe to allow us and the Palestinians to reach a historic breakthrough in the relations between us,” Mr. Sharon said in a Tel Aviv speech last night.

“If the Palestinians act in a comprehensive fashion to fight terror, violence, and incitement,” Mr. Sharon said, “we can move forward to the process of implementing the ‘road map,’ and then we can coordinate various activities with them regarding the disengagement plan.”

In an interview published yesterday in the newspaper Yediot Ahronot, Mr. Sharon said he was “very satisfied with what I am hearing is happening on the Palestinian side and I am very interested in advancing processes with” Mr. Abbas.

In local elections in 10 localities in Gaza yesterday, meanwhile, the Islamic Hamas terror movement scored some big victories, according to exit polls, handily defeating Mr. Abbas’s Fatah party in three of the four communities polled. The Hamas victories reflected widespread support in Gaza for the terrorist Islamic movement, which provides welfare, schools, and kindergartens to residents, alongside its attacks against Israel.

Mr. Abbas has won assurances from terror groups that they will halt attacks if Israel stops military operations, including arrest raids and targeted killings of Palestinian Arab fugitives.

In meetings Wednesday, Palestinian Arab negotiators proposed both sides issue formal cease-fire declaration. Israeli officials have said in the past they are not interested in such a formal declaration, but Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said the Israelis promised to consider it.

“We are very interested in the issue of the cease-fire, and the issue of a declaration of a cease-fire, and we’ve informed the Israelis of this, and the Israelis have to respond quickly and not wait for another two or three weeks,” Mr. Abbas said yesterday.

Mr. Sharon spokesman’s, Asaf Shariv, did not rule out the idea.

“I don’t know if a cease-fire is the right wording,” he said. “If there is quiet on the Palestinian side, Israel will respond with quiet.”

Prime Minister Qurei issued the ban on civilians carrying weapons, Mr. Erekat said. The move marks a significant departure from the policy of longtime Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who died on November 11. It was unclear whether the new Palestinian Arab leadership would be successful in disarming civilians. Israel has long demanded terrorist factions be disarmed.

Mr. Abbas and Mr. Qurei have also decided to name Nasser Yousef as the new Palestinian Arab interior minister, a post in charge of security forces, a senior Palestinian Arab official said. Mr. Yousef was in charge of cracking down on terrorists in the 1990s, and his appointment would send a clear signal that the leadership intends to act against terrorist groups.

In central and southern Gaza, Palestinian Arab police had been expected to take up positions yesterday, but the deployment was delayed until Friday because of technical difficulties. Training for the deployment, three police jeeps carrying armed police officers in full uniform drove down the main street of the southern town of Khan Younis yesterday. In a practice run, officers set up a checkpoint on the main road, while a commander instructed them on how to conduct security checks.