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Hamas, Islamic Jihad agree to truce

JERUSALEM JUNE 25. A Palestinian source said on Wednesday that top leaders of the militant Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups have agreed to halt attacks against Israelis for three months.

The claim could not be confirmed with Palestinian or Israeli officials. But Israeli military intelligence officials have said they expect such an agreement, and Palestinian officials and militant leaders have suggested it is imminent.

The Palestinian source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the document outlining the truce terms was signed in Damascus by the top Hamas leader, Khaled Mashal, and the Islamic Jihad leader, Ramadan Shalah, and came as a result of contacts between them and Marwan Barghouti, a leader of the Palestinian uprising jailed in Israel.

Mr. Barghouti signed the agreement on behalf of Fatah, which is headed by the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, and the Prime Minister, Mahmoud Abbas, the source said.

The military wings of all three groups have carried out bombing and shooting attacks against Israelis during 33 months of fighting, killing hundreds.

In the document, the militant groups agree to a moratorium on attacks for three months.

In exchange, they demand Israel end targeted killings of militants and military incursions into Palestinian areas, the source said. They also call for a release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel — but do not set any deadline or time-frame for this, the source said.

Local Hamas leaders could not confirm the agreement. But Mohammed al-Hindi, the top Islamic Jihad leader in the Gaza Strip, confirmed Hamas agreed to a three-month truce and was trying to arrange a joint declaration with his group.

Mediators were currently in the process of informing Palestinian and Egyptian officials of the agreement.

Egypt has played a major role in helping Mr. Abbas persuade the militants to end attacks and give a chance to the U.S.-backed ``road map'' peace plan.

The source said an official announcement on a cease-fire would probably be made in coming days, possibly from Cairo. — AP

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