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Fatah calls for ceasefire
 Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas' ruling Fatah movement has reissued a call for a mutual ceasefire with Israel. "We are ready for a total ceasefire in the occupied territories and in Israel, in line with the roadmap [peace plan]," the group's 129-member revolutionary council said in a statement on Sunday. But Fatah also stressed "the Palestinians' right to self defence against attacks by the Israeli army", and their "right to resist the occupation, settlement and the construction" by Israel of a West Bank separation barrier.Violence has dropped in recent weeks in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza amid Abbas' efforts to bring various Palestinian groups into a truce they say must be reciprocated by the Israeli army. Israel and the Palestinians have said they hoped to declare a formal halt to more than four years of violence at the summit in Sharm al-Shaikh. Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abd Allah are expected to convene the summit. Posted by: Fred 2005-02-07 |
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