Palestinians fail to reach truce deal

PALESTINIANS yesterday failed to reach agreement on any truce offer to Israel, even a conditional one, after three days of talks mired in arguments, delegates said.

Negotiators from Palestinian factions including Hamas and Islamic Jihad were split over whether to offer a full ceasefire or a limited truce that would only stop attacks inside Israel.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, who joined the talks in Cairo in the hopes of pulling off a deal, left the Egyptian capital without an agreement in hand. Delegates said a statement will be issued later outlining the results of the meetings.

Maher Taher, a senior delegate from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said disagreements over the degree of the ceasefire could not be bridged.

When asked whether the statement would include reference to halting attacks on civilians, a broader ceasefire or a mandate to the Palestinian Authority to negotiate terms with Israel, he replied: "None of the above ... and so we will end with a press release."

"There are disagreements about the nature of a ceasefire. The factions have different positions on the issue.

Mohammed Nazzal, a senior Hamas official in Cairo for the talks, said Hamas, Islamic Jihad and three Palestinian factions have submitted an offer about sparing civilians. The offer was conditional on Israel also agreeing in principle before the militants go into the details. "We declared that we are ready to avoid civilians from both sides," Mr Nazzal said.

Israel rejected that idea, because Israeli civilians and soldiers in the West Bank and Gaza would still be targets. Hamas and Islamic Jihad have carried out most suicide attacks against Israel.

The Fatah faction of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat opposed issuing a statement that fell short of offering a total halt to hostilities.