Israel suspends WB offensive
Foreign Desk Report

JERUSALEM—Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed on Sunday to meet soon and improve cooperation as Israel suspended an offensive following a halt to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. Their first telephone conversation in over five weeks could help put peacemaking back on track after a surge of violence that damaged hopes stirred by Israel’s September 12 withdrawal from Gaza to end 38 years of military rule.
Abbas called Sharon with greetings for the Jewish New Year, which starts at sundown on Monday. Sharon expressed best wishes for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, starting this week. A statement from Sharon’s office said they “agreed to tighten cooperation between them and to work together to advance the process. They also agreed to meet soon in order to advance various issues that are on the agenda.” “Both leaders expressed hope that the new year would be more successful, a year of peace and hope,” it said. Israeli and Palestinian officials said no date had been set for a summit. A meeting had been pencilled in for Sunday, but was canceled because of a lack of preparation and amid the surge of violence.
After five days without rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, Israeli security sources said an offensive there was being scaled back to give Abbas a chance to stop militants from launching attacks. Israeli airstrikes prompted by rocket salvoes killed four gunmen in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces also raided the West Bank to arrest hundreds of suspected militants. Five gunmen and a teenager were killed during raids.
Abbas, under U.S. pressure to bring militants under control, began deploying forces late last week to stop fighters from carrying weapons on Gaza streets and prevent attacks on Israel. Top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat welcomed the Israeli decision to scale back the offensive. “We are committed to stop violence against the Israelis anywhere,” he told Reuters. “We hope that the Israeli announcement today will reflect an Israeli commitment to stop violence against Palestinians everywhere.”
The powerful Islamic militant faction Hamas, sworn to destroying the Jewish state, said it did not trust Israel to end “aggressive practices” on the ground.
They also agreed to meet soon in order to advance various issues that are on the agenda.” “Both leaders expressed hope that the new year would be more successful, a year of peace and hope,” it said. Israeli and Palestinian officials said no date had been set for a summit.
But Hamas has reaffirmed its commitment to a February truce that smoothed Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and has been largely popular with Palestinians. A new opinion poll showed that 62 percent of Palestinians opposed launching attacks from Gaza. The latest bloody surge began after an explosion killed 17 people at a Hamas rally. Accusing Israel, Hamas fired off rocket salvoes from Gaza. Israel denied responsibility and Palestinian officials said the blast was caused by a Hamas accident.
Abbas is due to visit Washington this month to discuss ways of reviving peace negotiations. Israel insists that Abbas dismantles militant groups such as Hamas — a process that the Palestinians are meant to begin under a U.S.-backed peace “road map” — before there can be new talks on Palestinian statehood. Israel has failed to meet its own road map commitment to freeze settlement building in the West Bank, fuelling Palestinian fears that the Gaza withdrawal plan was an Israeli ruse to strengthen its hold on the West Bank. Palestinians want a state made up of the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem, all captured by Israel in the 1967 war.