Palestinian Resistance movements agree to ceasefire

1/24/2005 11:00:00 AM GMT

Palestinian Resistance movements have finally agreed to halt anti-Israel attacks as they near a formal ceasefire deal with the newly elected Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and await Israel's response, a senior Palestinian official said Monday.

The groups pledge to suspend attacks came after Israeli officials said Sunday Israel was willing to end military operations only if the Palestinian fighters stopped their attacks.

Analysts predicts that the Palestinians’ move is a step forward towards bringing both sides closer to ending the bloody conflict.

U.S. envoy William Burns is expected to arrive in Israel later this week to meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials, to discuss the ongoing cease-fire talks.

Abbas seeks Israeli guarantees that it will halt its offensive against the Palestinians, including non-stop raids, arrests and demolitions.

In the past, Israel refused to grant the Palestinian fighters amnesty, but appeared to be softening its position. Asaf Shariv, an adviser to the Israeli PM, said Israel would not make public declarations. "It will be a de facto cease-fire," he said. "If there is quiet, we will respond with quiet."

Abbas wrapped up a week of talks with Resistance groups’ leaders in Gaza.

Ziad Abu Amr, Palestinian negotiator, said that they all promised to suspend anti-Israel attacks.

However, Palestinian officials said Abbas would not formally declare a ceasefire until he get Israeli guarantees.

"They will continue doing that for some time to see if Israel is ready to accept demands and hold the truce," Abu Amr told the Voice of Palestinian radio.

About 3,000 Palestinian security forces are deployed in Gaza Strip to prevent any attacks targeting Israeli soldiers .

Abbas reached on Sunday a truce deal with the Palestinian resistance movements Hamas and Jihad, persuading them to join ceasefire talks aimed at stopping attacks against Israeli targets.

"An agreement on a ceasefire was completed between Abu Mazen (Abbas) and ‘terrorist’ organisations including Hamas and Islamic Jihad," in talks in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz told Israel’s military radio.

"This agreement was sealed in exchange for the future integration, notably of Hamas, in the Palestinian political institutions," Mofaz added, referring to the Palestinian Authority.

"The agreement constitutes a positive sign and a success for Abu Mazen, we are pleased with it but must closely follow the way the terrorist organisations conduct themselves on the ground."

On Saturday, Abbas held talks with Hamas leaders, after which his office issued a statement saying that the talks were "positive" and focused mainly on "the return of calm that is in the national interest of Palestinians."

Sami Abu Zohri, a Hamas leader, told journalists: "We spoke at length the return to calm and we said that we were ready to discuss this, on condition that it be clearly established that the Israeli occupation ends."

Also Saturday, Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade announced it was ready for a mutual cease-fire with Israel.

However, Al Aqsa's announcement came with conditions to the Israeli government, whom they say must also observe the truce and begin releasing Palestinian prisoners.

But Tel Aviv has failed to give such guarantees in the past and whether it will do so following Al Aqsa's truce announcement, remains to be seen.

On the other hand, the United States said it was "encouraged" by Abbas’ efforts to end the violence in the Gaza Strip and his coordination with the Israelis.

"We are encouraged by the steps that President Abbas has taken to gain control of the security situation in Gaza," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher. "I would say we're also pleased with the coordination that's going on between Israeli and Palestinian officials."

On Saturday, Abbas carried out an inspection trip of Palestinian public property in Gaza, giving instructions for a security force to be set up to prevent attacks on of the PA belongings.

In a statement issued by Abbas' office said: "The Palestinian president has given instructions to put an end to the violation of, and attacks against, Palestinian assets and public property and to regularise the situation."

The statement also said that the Palestinian President had given orders to "create for this end, a security force."