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| By Associated Press January 25, 2005 |
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Hamas' top leader told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Islamic terror group is ready to temporarily halt attacks if Israel stops targeting militant leaders and releases Palestinian prisoners, raising hopes for a formal cease-fire that could end a bloody four-year conflict with Israel.
In another sign that agreement to stop the violence is a concrete possibility, Palestinian and Israeli generals met to discuss deploying Palestinian police in southern Gaza to stop terrorists from attacking Israelis. After the meeting, a Palestinian official said the deployment would begin Thursday.
The apparent softening of Hamas' position raised hopes that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas would soon reach a formal cease-fire with militant groups that could lead to a new round of peace talks with Israel.
Speaking to The Associated Press in Damascus by cellular phone from an undisclosed location, Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, who is based in Damascus, said success of the truce effort depends on Israel.
"This is a moment of test," Mashaal said. "It puts the responsibility on the international community and the United States to force Israel to recognize the Palestinian rights."
"If the Zionist enemy (Israel) abides by certain conditions, such as releasing all prisoners and detainees and halting all acts of killing, assassination and aggression against our people inside and outside (the Palestinian territories), the general national position of all Palestinian factions has become that they are ready to positively deal with the idea of a temporary truce," Mashaal said.
Mashaal warned that Hamas would respond to any Israeli attacks.
A senior Hamas leader in the West Bank has said the group has agreed to suspend attacks for 30 days to test Israel's response, while other Hamas members emphasized that a truce deal is not yet complete.
Israel has refused to guarantee it would not pursue militants, but has said it will respond to calm with calm.
After nightfall Tuesday, Palestinian public security commander Maj. Gen. Moussa Arafat met with the Israeli commander in Gaza, Brig. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, at the Erez crossing point between Israel and Gaza, their second session in a week.
In a two-hour meeting they discussed plans for a south Gaza deployment, another step toward ending four years of violence with Israel, just days after some 3,000 Palestinian police deployed in northern Gaza to prevent terrorist rocket attacks on Israeli communities. No rockets or mortars have hit Israeli communities since last week.
Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat told The Associated Press that beginning Thursday, police are to take up positions near Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza -- frequent flashpoints of clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants.
Erekat said another security meeting is expected Wednesday.
Israeli military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israel agreed to the posting of 1,500 Palestinian police in central and southern Gaza, but not on the border road between Gaza and Egypt.
With tensions easing, contacts were beginning over arranging a meeting between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Erekat said he has been in touch by phone with Sharon's aides to prepare for a summit. He said contacts with Israel are going well, but that the two sides have not yet begun to discuss the content of the meeting.
Erekat met Tuesday with Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres, leader of the dovish Labor Party.
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