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| By Israel Insider staff and partners March 17, 2005 |
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| Palestinian militants of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a militia linked to Fatah movement, hold their rifles during a rally against the plan to collect weapons from the Palestinian militant factions in Nuseirat refugee camp in southern Gaza Strip, Thursday March 17, 2005. (AP) |
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Palestinian terrorist groups agreed Thursday to continue "quiet" with Israel until the end of this year on condition that Israel halts violence against Palestinians and frees prisoners, participants at their meeting in Cairo said.
Extending the halt in attacks that began in early February is key in Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' attempts to push forward the fragile peace process with Israel. The agreement came during talks in Cairo between 13 Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the main groups carrying out attacks on Israel.
"What has been agreed upon is that the period of calm will have upper time limit, which is the end of the year," Mohammed Nazzal, a Hamas leader, told reporters. This is in return for an Israeli commitment to stop aggression against Palestinian people and to release all prisoners."
In a warning to Israel, Nazzal added that "ending the period of calm will be in our hands, especially if there is no adherence to the conditions."
A statement released by the factions said they agreed on "a program for the year 2005 which centers on continuing the current atmosphere of calm in return for an Israeli commitment to stop all forms of aggression against our land and the Palestinian people and also the freeing of all prisoners."
In Israel, a senior government official dismissed the cease-fire declaration as an internal Palestinian issue but said Israel would honor its Feb. 8 agreement with Abbas to refrain from military action as long as Palestinians cease violence against Israelis.
Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called a halt to violence after a Feb. 8 summit in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik, in which Israel also promised to return five West Bank cities to Palestinian control. Since then violence has dropped dramatically, but a deadly Islamic Jihad suicide bombing on Feb. 25 prompted Israel to halt some of its commitments.
"The truce will continue but it requires Israel to stop aggression against Palestinians and to release all the Palestinian detainees," said Sakhar Habash, a member of the central committee of Abbas's ruling Fatah movement.
"The behavior of Sharon's government will determine if it is possible for this calmness to be long lasting or short," said Nayef Hawatmeh of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The Israeli government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, ruled out any discussions with the 13 "terrorist" groups participating in the Cairo talks, said further progress in peacemaking would depend on Abbas' ability to begin disarming the militants.
"In the future, can there be peace and quiet and political negotiations? That depends very much on the dismantling of these terrorist organizations," the official said. If violence continues, he added, "we'll feel free to act against any terrorist activity that endangers our citizens."
Abbas is hoping a cease-fire declaration would push Israel to carry out its promises -- including the handover of five West Bank towns -- and move the two sides back to the negotiating table.
Israel on Wednesday returned to the Palestinians security control over Jericho, one of the five towns Sharon promised to hand over at the February summit.
Habash said the factions also agreed on "rearranging the Palestinian house," saying they would appoint a committee to "reform the Palestinian council to achieve unity."
Hamas and Jihad, the main groups that have carried out anti-Israeli attacks, are pressing Abbas to reform the Palestinian leadership to give them more say in decision-making -- part of Hamas' move to take a direct role in Palestinian politics.
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