Posted on 12/19/2006 9:40:19 AM PST by Alouette
Palestinian prime minister delivers speech on internal issues, accuses Abbas of isolating government. However, he also conveys message to Israel: If Palestinian state is established within 1967 borders, Hamas will aggress to long-term hudna. Meanwhile, Abbas calls for end to Gaza fighting
Ali Waked Latest Update: 12.19.06, 19:12
Hamas is ready for a ceasefire with Israel if a Palestinian state is established, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said in a speech delivered Tuesday afternoon.
Haniyeh's speech dealt mainly with internal issues. He responded to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' call for elections in the Palestinian Authority and called for unity in the struggle against the occupation.
However, he also called for the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. If this takes place, he clarified, he would be ready for a long-term ceasefire, which may even last 20 years.
Earlier, Abbas called on rival factions to honor a frayed two-day old ceasefire, as raging gun battles in the Gaza Strip claimed another six lives.
The clashes between loyalists of the ruling Islamist movement Hamas and partisans of Abbas's Fatah party have shattered a truce agreed on Sunday in a confrontation that has been escalating for weeks.
In a statement from his office, Abbas said Tuesday: "As president of the Palestinian people, I call on everyone without exception to cease the fire and the murders ... in order to save our unity.
"The agreement signed between the Palestinian factions should be applied on the ground, and Palestinian security forces should deploy in the streets in order to bring a halt to the actions of the combatants."
'Abbas contributing to isolation'
Haniyeh also called for an end to violence in the PA, saying that "in spite of the internal differences, in spite of the wounds resulting from these differences, and in spite of the recent days' pain – we will remain united in the face of the occupation, and our nation will not be involved in its internal struggles."
In the latest incidents, a Fatah loyalist was killed after being kidnapped by gunmen and another died of wounds from clashes earlier in the day, medics said.
Earlier, two Fatah loyalists and a Hamas policeman were killed in gun battles in Gaza City. At least 19 people, including seven teenagers, were wounded.
Meanwhile, dozens of armed Hamas members surrounded a Fatah headquarters in Jabalya, in the northern Gaza Strip, sources inside the building said.
The sources said Fatah forces had detained two Hamas members earlier in the day and the militants were trying to free them.
And in the West Bank city of Hebron, four gunmen kidnapped a Hamas loyalist from a hospital where he worked, security sources said.
Violence has spiraled since Saturday, when Abbas called for early elections, raising fears that the turf battle between Hamas and Fatah could descend into all-out civil war.
Since Abbas called the ballot, 10 people have been killed, two of them teenagers trapped in the crossfire, and dozens wounded.
Tensions were palpable across Gaza City, where armed Hamas militants in black hoods and Islamic green bandannas were seen roaming the streets while crowds of mourners gathered for the funeral of a Fatah security man.
Each side has accused the other of provoking the clashes.
Diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis were gathering momentum on Tuesday.
Egypt urged both factions to return to the truce, warning that continuing violence would lead to international loss of support for the Palestinians.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert paid a surprise visit to neighboring Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II on ways of reactivating the dormant Mideast peace process.
Officials there announced that the king phoned Abbas and offered to host a meeting between him and Haniyeh to defuse the internecine crisis.
At the same time, Organization of the Islamic Conference chief Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu is set to meet both Abbas and Haniyeh.
Haniyeh's government has been boycotted by Israel and the West since it took office in March after a shock election win over Abbas's long-dominant Fatah, plunging the Palestinian territories into their worst financial crisis.
'Grave internal crisis'
Abbas called for elections in a bid to end months of political deadlock following the collapse of talks on forming a national unity government. The Hamas-controlled government denounced that as tantamount to a coup.
Abbas, who has been at loggerheads with Hamas since it took power, earlier described the situation as a "grave internal crisis."
"I have called for early presidential and parliamentary elections so that the people can decide on the base of an acceptable program to preserve their national interests ... and put an end to the siege and crisis," he said.
"Any bullet shot anywhere is a loss for the Palestinian people and is not in our interest."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has appealed to the global community to back the moderate president, who is grappling with one of the most dangerous crises in the Palestinian territories in decades.
Blair, who is now in the United Arab Emirates, called for an initiative to support the Palestinians and move toward a two-state solution for the Middle East conflict.
A senior Palestinian official told AFP the initiative would be worked out in coordination with the United States and be unveiled by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during her expected visit to the region early next year.
Abbas has said elections were the way to resolve the power struggle with Hamas, boycotted internationally because of its failure to recognize Israel, renounce violence and agree to past peace deals.
But he did not set a date. Election officials said they would need 110 days to organize a ballot once Abbas issues an official decree.
Israel – which pulled troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005 but maintains tight control over its borders – said Abbas should be supported.
AFP contributed to the report
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
Only 20 year truce?
Israel's losing money every minute it doesn't take this deal!
His fingers were crossed behind his back, of course...
Perhaps we should ask the Quraysh and their descendants how the "Prophet"'s first hudna worked out.
Oh, what was I thinking, they are all enjoying the "salaam" dirt nap.
That's nice of Abbas to offer a "ceasefire" on behalf of Haniyeh's Hamas and Haniyeh's thugs. Of course, it means nothing. Both Haniyeh's thugs AND Abbas's thugs will ignore it.
Over, Under. Odds?
It may last 20 years, and pigs may levitate.
The odds are about the same.
Smart money says the truce (snort!!) lasts one day, and the pigs remain earthbound.
In dog years, maybe. Let's see that equals about three human years...enough time for Iran to get nukes...enough time for them to bring in arms and train..enough time to milk the coffers. Takes time to build a "nation".
I wouldn't give it 20 minutes.
I'll take the under by 19.5 years! I might even give odds.
19.5? I believe you would lose by 5 months and 29 days.
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