Abbas pledges Hamas truce ahead of talks

PALESTINIAN Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said he was convinced he could reach a truce with Hamas by next week, when he is due to join Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and US President George W Bush in a three-way summit in Jordan.

In an interview with Israel’s top-selling daily Yediot Aharonot, Mr Abbas said: “I believe that next week I will reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

“Hamas will undertake to stop terrorism both inside the Green Line and in the territories,” he said, referring to the line separating Israel from the West Bank.