The Hindu : Front Page : Israel, Palestinians declare ceasefire

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Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005

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Front Page

Israel, Palestinians declare ceasefire

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, FEB. 8. After four years of bloodshed, the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, today declared a formal end to violence, kindling hopes of a possible revival of the stalled peace talks. "We have agreed with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to cease all acts of violence against the Israelis and the Palestinians wherever they are," Mr. Abbas said in a statement.

The Palestinian leader held discussions with Mr. Sharon at a summit hosted by Egypt's President, Hosni Mubarak, in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm-el-Sheikh. Jordan's King Abdullah II was the fourth invitee to the talks, which come after the death of the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, and Mr. Abbas' election to the post of PA President last month. "Peace means the establishment of a democratic Palestinian state alongside Israel," Mr. Abbas observed.

Mr. Sharon, on his part, declared: "Today, in my meeting with Chairman Abbas, we agreed that all Palestinians will stop all acts of violence against all Israelis everywhere, and, at the same time, Israel will cease all its military activity against all Palestinians everywhere."

He added: "Israel intends to honour [the] Palestinians' right to live in independence and dignity." The Israeli leader called upon all those present to "declare that violence won't be allowed to murder hope."

Mr. Mubarak told reporters that he welcomed the "determination and willingness" of both sides.

Hamas sceptical

Notwithstanding expressions of optimism, the Palestinian militant group, Islamic Resistance Movement or Hamas, has expressed reservations about the summit's outcome. "There is no sense now in talking about a truce," Hassan Youssef of Hamas told Al-Jazeera television. "We have not seen any serious pressures on the Israeli side to take measures on the ground to prove its seriousness."

Earlier, the Hamas spokesman in the Gaza strip, Mahmoud Zahar, suggested that the organisation would take no decision before hearing from Mr. Abbas on the outcome of the summit. Mr. Zahar also stressed that the Israeli disposition towards political prisoners was a major concern.

Expressing scepticism about the results of the summit, Hafez Barghouti, Editor-in -Chief of the Palestinian daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah, told The Hindu over telephone from Ramallah that he "hoped" the summit would result in the revival of the peace process.

"Mr. Sharon has said in the past that he would not release prisoners who have blood on their hands. The Israeli Prime Minister is not entitled to make such remarks after being responsible for the deaths of so many innocent Palestinians," he said.

The Palestinian political commentator, Hani Al Masri, pointed out that the ceasefire would hold only if Israel first demonstrated on the ground that it was exercising restraint.

During his meeting, Mr. Sharon invited Mr. Abbas to visit Israel — an offer that the Palestinian leader accepted.

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