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Photo: AP
President Mahmoud Abbas
Photo: AP
Photo: AFP
Abbas in Gaza
Photo: AFP

Abbas: Factions to renew truce

Palestinian leader says various factions agree to renew ceasefire; several groups deny report

Ceasefire in the south as well? Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced Thursday that Palestinian factions have reached an agreement on renewing a de facto truce with Israel.  Abbas made the remarks at his Gaza office after touring the southern Strip.

 

He did not provide more details, but Ynet found that the Palestinian leader discussed the matter in Gaza with an Egyptian security delegation. However, since his arrival in the Strip two days ago Abbas has not yet convened faction representatives to discuss the matter.

 

Meanwhile, representatives of Hamas, the Popular Resistance Committees, and the Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades said they are unaware of a deal to renew the truce, but confirmed that the matter has been raised in regular contacts among the factions.

 

At the same time, the Hamas government is also undertaking efforts to reach understandings that would see the renewal of the ceasefire. Palestinian factions are demanding that Israel be party to the agreement this time, as opposed to the previous, unilateral deal.

 

PA unity government

 

On Wednesday, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and Abbas agreed to form a national unity government. During their second meeting on the matter, the two figures were able to resolve all disagreements hindering the formation of the government, a move agreed upon in a document prepared by Palestinian prisoners from various factions about two months ago.

 

Ynet learned that the two figures also discussed contacts related to the kidnapping of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Top Palestinian Authority officials believe the affair will be resolved through the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit's transfer to Egypt, before he goes back to Israel.

 

The Palestinians hope that the formation of a unity government that represents all Palestinian factions would lead the international community, and particularly the European Union, to renew its financial support to the PA. The matter has already been discussed between Abbas and European envoy Javier Solana.

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.17.06, 15:41
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