Palestinian Factions Agree to Period of Calm

GAZA - Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo today agreed to an extended period of calm with Israel, but conditioned it with an Israeli commitment to cease the aggression.

A statement issued by the factions following the inter-Palestinian dialogue asserted that they have agreed to continue the current atmosphere of calm in return for a reciprocal halt to all forms of aggression and a release of Palestinian prisoners.

The spokesman for the Islamic Jihad movement, Anwar Abu Taha, said that the final statement did not specify a timeframe for the calm, but added that the decision to maintain it will depend on the Israeli commitment to stop its attacks.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Horani, a member of Fateh's delegation in Cairo, also said that the factions have also agreed to form a committee of senior members in the factions to develop the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movements have linked the commitment to the calm with a participation in decision making, calling to form a preparatory committee to discuss the formation of a national Palestinian term of reference to ensure the participation of the factions in making decisions.

Elsewhere, the secretary general of Fateh movement in the West Bank, Marwan Barghouti, called from his Israeli prison cell on the Palestinian factions in Cairo to adhere to the choice of the Intifada in parallel with the peacemaking process.

Barghouti said in a statement issued by the popular campaign to support his release that the factions should adhere to the national constants of establishing an independent state and putting an end to the occupation and settlements.

Furthermore, the secretary general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Ahmad Saadat, who is imprisoned in Jericho under British and American custody, sent a letter from prison demanding the opposition leaders in Cairo not to sign any official declaration of ceasefire with Israel unless an obvious deal was reached about the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

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