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Israel says Palestinian deal a non-starter for talks
Jerusalem, Dec 07: Israel has rejected a an agreement by Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo to halt suicide bombings inside Israel without stopping attacks on Israeli soldiers or settlers in occupied land.
Jerusalem, Dec 07: Israel has rejected a an agreement by Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo to halt suicide bombings inside Israel without stopping attacks on Israeli soldiers or
settlers in occupied land.
A senior Israeli official told a news agency yesterday such a deal would not be enough to renew Israeli-Palestinian peace talks or set up a proposed summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie.
''I would say that such a half-way measure is a non-starter. What kind of a ceasefire is it when there is no ceasefire and you continue to shoot?'' the official said.
But he said Israel would reciprocate if Palestinian groups ceased all attacks.
''We say that if there will be quiet, if there is no shooting, there will be no military action on our part. But we're not going to sit back and wait until a suicide bombing or an attack on a settlement occurs.''
Palestinian cabinet member and negotiator Saeb Erekat said the director of Sharon's bureau and Qurie's top aide would meet on Sunday to prepare for a summit, seen as crucial to reviving talks under the US-based road map peace plan.
But the Israeli official said haggling in Cairo over the agreement had thrown this meeting into doubt. Plans to hold a summit have been put off for weeks amid disputes over setting the conditions for talks.
Bureau Report
''I would say that such a half-way measure is a non-starter. What kind of a ceasefire is it when there is no ceasefire and you continue to shoot?'' the official said.
But he said Israel would reciprocate if Palestinian groups ceased all attacks.
''We say that if there will be quiet, if there is no shooting, there will be no military action on our part. But we're not going to sit back and wait until a suicide bombing or an attack on a settlement occurs.''
Palestinian cabinet member and negotiator Saeb Erekat said the director of Sharon's bureau and Qurie's top aide would meet on Sunday to prepare for a summit, seen as crucial to reviving talks under the US-based road map peace plan.
But the Israeli official said haggling in Cairo over the agreement had thrown this meeting into doubt. Plans to hold a summit have been put off for weeks amid disputes over setting the conditions for talks.
Bureau Report