Sharon calls for immediate ceasefire

Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon tonight called on the Palestinians to agree to an immediate ceasefire after eight months of bloody fighting.

‘‘I call tonight for a total truce in the area, and I say again here that if the Palestinians accept this proposal to stop the fire, we will immediately stop the fire,’’ Sharon told a televised news conference.

Sharon said a ceasefire could lead to implementing a United States-backed plan for restarting peace talks.

The proposals were published Monday by an international commission led by former US Senator George Mitchell.

Sharon said a truce could be followed by the confidence-building measures recommended by the Mitchell Commission.

But he was evasive on a key recommendation of the panel that Israel freeze all construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Sharon said he believed a formula could be found that would satisfy the Palestinians, but also allow for the settlements to expand according to their current needs.

Palestinians have said they would only accept a complete halt to construction, not a watered-down version.

Sharon called a for a resumption of peace talks which were broken off in January, about a week before an election that swept him to power.

The Israeli leader has said he would not negotiate under fire.

He also opposes negotiating a final peace deal with the Palestinians and will only discuss another interim agreement with them.

The Palestinians have said they would only return to talks for the purpose of working out a final accord.