Abbas hits out at lack of action on pull-out

PALESTINIAN President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday accused Israel of undermining peace efforts by dragging its feet over promises to free prisoners and pull back from West Bank cities.

Addressing the Palestinian parliament, Mr Abbas voiced his toughest criticism of Israel since agreeing a ceasefire a month ago. Israel froze peace moves after a Palestinian suicide bombing on February 25.

Mr Abbas turned up the heat just hours before he was due to meet Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz, resuming talks for handing over five West Bank towns to Palestinian control. It will be the highest-level negotiations since last month's summit in Egypt.

Mr Abbas's scathing comments could exacerbate tensions in the negotiations, which Israeli and Palestinian sources had predicted would lead to an Israeli army pull-back from Tulkarm.

However, Israel has demanded that Mr Abbas dismantle militant groups instead of just trying to coax them into halting attacks.

Hopes for Middle East peace have risen since Mr Abbas, a moderate elected on a platform of non-violence, replaced the late Yasser Arafat and fighting has declined. But after a bombing killed five people in Tel Aviv, Israel suspended a planned hand-over of cities and prisoner releases, saying Mr Abbas had to crack down on militants.

"We have proven our commitment and seriousness... despite continued occupation and poor capabilities," Mr Abbas said.

He may be hardening to win over militants who have balked at formalising a de facto truce. He also appeared to be sending a message of frustration to the international community, which backed his plans for reform at last week's London conference but pushed him to do more to rein in militants.

Mr Abbas reiterated demands for negotiations for statehood alongside efforts to end violence. Israel says that there can be no talks on such issues until militant groups are crushed.

The meeting with Mr Mofaz was due to take place at the Erez Crossing to Gaza late last night. Successful negotiations could brighten to the prospects for further peace moves.

Aides to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Mr Abbas had restarted talks in recent days as security co-operation improved.

The towns to be handed over had been under Palestinian rule following a 1993 interim peace accord, but effectively were reoccupied by Israel after a wave of suicide bombings during a Palestinian uprising that erupted in 2000.