An Egyptian mediator and Palestinian leaders have agreed to seek a ceasefire from resistance groups. But a senior Palestinian official on Monday said such a ceasefire would succeed only with US pressure on Israel.
| I'm not sure it'll come. I think both the U.S. and Israel were pretty disgusted with the last one. |
The Palestinian Authority and Egyptian officials were to begin separate talks with the groups in Gaza in the coming days with expectations for a session including all sides in Cairo by the end of November. The mediator, Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, would send his deputy to Gaza on Wednesday, said Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath in Ramallah. "God willing, there will be a truce and a dialogue," said Suleiman after meeting Arafat and Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei in Ramallah on Monday. Palestinian officials said a truce pact would be presented to Israel with a request that it take reciprocal steps. "We demand US commitments or guarantees to ensure the Israelis do not take action that leads to the collapse of a new truce," said Nabil Abu Rdinah, senior aide to President Yasser Arafat.
"The Americans must press Israel to stop assassinations and all forms of attacks so the new truce can survive," Rdinah said. |