JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday denied reports that he is negotiating a backroom deal with three religious parties that would help him put off early elections, now tentatively set for spring.
Meanwhile, the Islamic militant group Hamas reported on its Web site that the commander of its military wing, Mohammed Deif, has escaped from Palestinian custody. The report could not be confirmed independently.
Deif tops Israel's most-wanted list as the mastermind of a number of suicide bombings that have killed scores of Israelis.
In the West Bank, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on Israeli motorists, wounding three, one seriously, the army said. The gunmen were firing from a car near the Jewish settlement of Shavei Shomron.
Earlier Thursday, Palestinian gunmen shot at Israeli cars on a main highway north of Jerusalem, hitting one vehicle, but causing no injuries. Nearly 300 people, the vast majority Palestinians, have been killed since Israeli-Palestinian fighting began Sept. 28.
Under the purported deal with the religious parties, Barak would seek to postpone the mandatory draft of Jewish seminary students, which is to take effect Jan. 1. In exchange, three religious parties would reverse themselves and vote against early elections.
"There is no basis to this," Barak angrily told Israel army radio. "There are no negotiations" with the religious parties.
Israel's Supreme Court has ruled that automatic draft exemptions granted to tens of thousands of seminary students are illegal and has instructed parliament to pass appropriate legislation on how to recruit them into the army.
Parliament has repeatedly failed to do so, and the court's deadline for new legislation expires at the end of the year.
Barak said Thursday that either parliament or the government would have to seek another extension from the high court to win more time to try to solve the complex issue. The three religious parties, which oppose the draft of seminary students, have considerable clout, especially at a time of political uncertainty.
On Nov. 28, parliament voted overwhelmingly to disperse itself and hold new elections, two years ahead of schedule. However, two more readings are required, allowing for several more weeks of political maneuvering.
Barak has repeatedly called on the hawkish opposition to join his coalition, citing the emergency situation of Israel's violent conflict with the Palestinians, now in its third month. But Barak has been unwilling to grant opposition leader Ariel Sharon veto powers over a resumption of peace talks, thus scuttling any deal.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Wednesday that a commission of inquiry into the causes of the rioting was "late," and should begin its work as soon as possible.
Israel has said the committee cannot start until the terms of reference are set. The commission, headed by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, is due to make its first visit to the area in the coming days.
Seven months ago, Deif, commander of Hamas' Izzedine al Qassam military wing, was arrested by Palestinian security forces.
Since then, there have been persistent rumors that he was not in jail, but was guarded in an informal house arrest by agents of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service headed by his childhood friend, Mohammed Dahlan.
The Hamas Web site said Preventive Security agents helped Dahlan escape on Dec. 1, and that Palestinian security forces have arrested the agents.
Palestinian security officials referred all questions to Dahlan who could not be reached for comment. A Hamas spokesman, Ismail Abu Shanab, said he had no official confirmation from the Palestinian Authority that Deif has escaped.