The Hindu : Palestinian radical groups declare truce

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 30, 2003

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Palestinian radical groups declare truce

Jerusalem June 29. In a major thrust to the West Asia peace process, the Palestinian radical groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, today announced a three-month halt to attacks on Israel.

The development came as the U.S. National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice, held crucial discussions with the Israeli and Palestinian Prime Ministers in a bid to push both sides towards implementation of the "road map" for peace.

"The two movements decided to suspend military operations against the Zionist enemy for three months, starting today," the Hamas leader, Abdel Aziz Rantisi, who was the target of an Israeli assassination attempt earlier this month, was quoted by the Israeli media as saying.

However, there was still no announcement from the third group, Yasser Arafat's Fatah, which is believed to be wrangling over the wordings of the truce.

The Islamic Jihad leader, Mohammed al-Hindi, confirming the truce, said it was "a joint declaration between Islamic Jihad and Hamas, and I think our brothers in Fatah are going to declare their position soon".

The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, presented Ms. Rice with the details of the agreement to transfer security responsibility to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during their meeting, the Army Radio reported.

PTI

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Hamas, Jihad accept truce

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