Palestinian militants agree truce with Israel

PALESTINIAN militant groups agreed yesterday to a truce with Israel until the end of this year on condition that Israel halts violence against Palestinians and frees prisoners.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called the statement by Palestinians following a summit in Cairo "a positive first step."

A statement from Mr Sharon's office said he made the remarks to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who called Mr Sharon to fill him in on the talks between the Palestinian factions.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas agreed to a de facto ceasefire at a February 8 summit with Mr Sharon.

Militant attacks have dropped considerably since but a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv in late February prompted Israel to back off some of its promises, and Mr Abbas was eager to get militants on board with a truce to push forward the fragile peace process.

"What has been agreed upon is that the period of calm will have an upper time limit, which is the end of the year," said Mohammed Nazzal, a Hamas leader.

"This is in return for an Israeli commitment to stop aggression against Palestinian people and to release all prisoners."

In a warning to Israel, Mr Nazzal added that "ending the period of calm will be in our hands, especially if there is no adherence to the conditions."

A statement released by the factions said they agreed on "a programme for the year 2005 which centres on continuing the current atmosphere of calm in return for an Israeli commitment to stop all forms of aggression against our land and the Palestinian people and also the freeing of all prisoners."

Those conditions could allow Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the main groups carrying out attacks, to back out of the truce at any time because Israel is unlikely to agree to their demand for the release of some 8,000 Palestinian prisoners still in Israeli jails.

But if Israel makes gestures, the militants would be under pressure to keep up the truce. Sharon aide Ranaan Gissin suggested yesterday that Israel could carry out a promise to release 500 more prisoners if it is satisfied by steps taken by the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinians did not say how quickly the Israelis should carry out their demands, but the factions said it depends on Israeli actions how long the halt endures.

In Israel, Mr Gissin dismissed the ceasefire declaration as an internal Palestinian issue, but said it would honour its February 8 agreement with Mr Abbas to refrain from military action as long as Palestinians cease violence against Israelis.

Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu was indicted yesterday for violating the terms of his release from prison after serving an 18-year term for espionage.

Vanunu was jailed for revealing secrets of Israel's nuclear programme to the Sunday Times in 1986.

The Justice Ministry said he was being indicted for 21 cases of violating the release restrictions and one instance of trying to leave Israel.