Hamas hints at ceasefire

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is ready to honour the security commitments in an internationally backed peace plan, he said today, adding that he hopes to resume peace talks with Israel soon.

Meanwhile, a top Hamas leader held out the possibility of a ceasefire with Israel. Sheik Hassan Yousef, the group’s top official in the West Bank, also said Hamas does not seek to eliminate Israel.

Abbas said he is eager to restart talks on the road map, a peace plan backed by the US, EU, Russia and the UN.

The plan, which envisions an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, has been stalled since it was launched in mid-2003 amid violations by both sides. The road map requires Israel to freeze settlement activity in the West Bank and Gaza, while Palestinians must dismantle militant groups.

“We emphasise before you that we are committing to the road map,” Abbas said after a meeting with local and international Christian leaders in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

“As you know, this plan starts with security commitments and eventually deals with the final status issues, like borders and Jerusalem. We are ready to implement our commitments. We hope the Israeli side will do the same,” he added.

Abbas did not specify what sort of security measures he is ready to take, but securing a ceasefire promise from Hamas would give him a boost. He has rejected Israeli calls to confront militants, trying instead to co-opt them.

Acknowledging the new political landscape, Yousef, the Hamas leader said the group might reconsider its violent tactics, though he said no decision has been made.

“We read the regional and the international reality and the changes that have taken place based on this reality, and we take positions according to these changes,” he said today.

“Hamas doesn’t want to eliminate Israel. Hamas is a realistic political movement,” he added, in a marked departure from the group’s previous calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.

Nabil Amr, an Abbas confidant, said Abbas has been in contact with Hamas. “The signs that are coming from Hamas after the election are positive and indicate that they recognise the results of the election,” he said.