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Will factions lay down their arms? Hamas terrorist
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PA, factions to discuss ‘calm’

Egyptians invite Palestinian factions to Cairo in bid to extend agree-upon cease-fire with Israel, scheduled to end in late December; PA calls on factions to refrain from holding military processions, carry arms in public

Representatives of the various Palestinian factions have received an invitation from Egyptian Intelligence Chief General Omar Suleiman to attend a round of talks in Cairo in a bid to extend the agreed-upon cease-fire with Israel, which was declared by the factions last March and is scheduled to end in late December.

 

Samir Masharawi, who is in charge of the Palestinian dialogue on behalf of Fatah, told the London-based newspaper al-Quds al-Arabi that most of the factions are interested in holding a new round of discussions before the cease-fire officially expires in December.

 

He said the discussions will focus on the possibility that the Islamic movements would join the PLO, adding that Egypt is working to form a consolidated Palestinian policy, alluding to the fact that the situation whereby each organization reacts differently to the “Israeli breaches” cannot continue.

 

Meanwhile, senior Islamic Jihad member Muhammad el-Hindi said the Palestinian factions will hold a round of talks in Cairo in late November or early December.

 

'All acts against Israeli side illegal'

 

He said that during the last meeting with the Egyptians Islamic Jihad made it clear that it is committed to putting an end to military processions held by the different factions, in accordance with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ demand.

 

El-Hindi said that his organization was prepared to declare an end to its military parades last Friday but refrained from doing so in light of the “Israeli aggression.”

 

On Thursday the chief of PA police in Gaza, General Ala Husseini, called on the Palestinian factions to stop carrying arms in public, adding that the security forces have received orders to confiscate illegal weapons.

 

“The weapons of the struggle have their time and place, but now that the Israeli occupation has left our homeland, all acts against the Israeli side in Gaza are illegal and may bring the occupation back,” he said. 

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.01.05, 16:16
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