Palestinian militants refuse to disarm

PALESTINIAN militant groups vowed yesterday they would not disarm, defying an appeal

“We will never be ready to lay down arms until the liberation of the last centimetre of the land of Palestine,” Hamas official

Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi said. Islamic Jihad, another group sworn to Israel’s destruction, followed suit.

But neither group ruled out further talks with Abbas, which seeks a halt to Palestinian attacks in a 32-month-old revolt for independence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

“The armed intifada (uprising) must end and we must resort to peaceful means to achieve our goals,” Abbas said.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad view Israel, as well as the West Bank and Gaza, as Palestinian land but have indicated they could halt suicide bombings and other attacks inside the Jewish state.