Palestinian groups agree to truce talks

Thirteen Palestinian factions, including major militant groups, have agreed to attend truce talks in Cairo early next month.

Palestinian officials said today they expect the conference to be successful - provided Israel agrees to halt military operations.

A truce is key to reviving the road map peace plan, which was formally endorsed by the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

But the situation remains fragile, and repeated ceasefire deals brokered in the past three years, including by Egypt, have collapsed.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia wants the militant groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, to agree to halt attacks he would then ask Israel to join a truce, an offer Israel might find hard to reject despite its misgivings.

Israel has insisted the Palestinians dismantle militant groups, as required by the road map, and it fears accepting a truce without a crackdown – as the Palestinians propose – will only allow the armed groups to recover from Israeli strikes.

However, Israel has signalled in recent days that it is softening its position. Dore Gold, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said today that Israel would take reciprocal steps if the Palestinians stop their attacks.

A diplomatic source said there are expectations that a comprehensive ceasefire will be concluded in the coming weeks. The source said Sharon and Qureia have a mutual interest in ending the fighting.