Hamas Near Pact to Halt Attacks
Hamas and other militant groups were on the verge of agreeing to halt attacks on Israelis, Palestinian officials said Monday, but an Israeli general leading security talks said a temporary truce would lead to more violence and set back the peace effort.
A pact by Palestinian militias to suspend their armed uprising could be a major breakthrough in peace negotiations, but terms of the emerging deal between Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and the militias were unclear.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. June 25, 2003 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday June 25, 2003 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 2 inches; 79 words Type of Material: Correction
Gaza deaths -- A caption accompanying a photo in Section A on Tuesday that showed mourners in the Gaza Strip carrying the body of a Palestinian militant stated that he was among those killed by a shell fired from an Israeli tank. That was based on information, reported Monday, that was later modified by officials on both sides in the conflict. The officials agreed that the militants’ deaths were apparently due to premature detonation of explosives they were handling.
One Palestinian mediator said the truce would be open-ended and apply not only to Israel but also the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
But a leader of one of the armed groups said on condition of anonymity that Hamas would accept only a three-month truce. Leaders of Islamic Jihad are trying to persuade activists to accept a limited deal but are facing stiff opposition, he added.
Palestinian officials, including Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath and Cabinet Minister Yasser Abed-Rabbo, were optimistic, saying they expected a positive response by the militias. A Hamas leader, Mahmoud Zahar, said “the decision will hopefully come very soon.”
A top Israeli security official, however, said talk of a temporary truce was dangerous. “No hope should be put in this,” Maj. Gen. Amos Gilad told Israel Radio. “As far as Hamas is concerned, [this] is a cease-fire for the purpose of reorganization so that it can carry out even harsher acts of murder.”
Meanwhile, Israel continued raids in Palestinian cities. Early today, Israeli forces swept into the West Bank city of Hebron and arrested more than 100 Palestinians, the army said. It said the raid targeted militants in Hamas.
Troops also closed off the old city of Nablus and several suspected militants were arrested, the army said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
