Sharon cuts contact with new Palestinian leader

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cut all contact with the newly elected Palestinian leader today, promising the silence would continue until Mahmoud Abbas moves to halt militant attacks.

But a day after Palestinians killed six Israeli civilians in a bombing-and-shooting attack at a Gaza cargo crossing, Abbas signalled that he will stick to persuasion in trying to rein in the armed groups.

“Israel informed international leaders today that there will be no meetings with Abbas until he makes a real effort to stop the terror,” said Sharon spokesman Assaf Shariv.

Hopes have been high that following the election of Abbas to replace Yasser Arafat, the two sides would be able to return to the negotiation table after more than four years of conflict.

Israel and the US refused to deal with Arafat, accusing him of fomenting terror. Abbas, however, is viewed as a moderate and a pragmatic leader.

Sharon decided to cut ties because Israel believes the Palestinian Authority was directly involved in the attack on the Karni crossing, Gaza’s main lifeline, letting the militants use a PA base to launch the attack, Shariv said.

Three armed groups claimed responsibility, including Hamas and the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, which has ties to Abbas’ ruling Fatah movement.

Officials from the US, EU, Britain and the Palestinians were informed of Israel’s decision this afternoon, Shariv said.

“Sharon’s bureau called me this afternoon saying that they were suspending all contact with the Palestinian side,” said Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat.

Erekat called on Israel to rethink the decision.

“We call on the Israelis to resume a meaningful peace process and dialogue because this is the only way to break the vicious cycle of violence,” Erekat said.

Last night’s attack marked the militants’ first major challenge to Abbas, who has spoken out against violence. Abbas said both the Karni attack and Israeli military operations in recent days “do not benefit the peace process”.

In a meeting with Arab Israeli lawmakers in Ramallah today, Abbas said he would not use force against the militants, as Israel demands, but would try to negotiate a truce.

Abbas reiterated this in a letter sent to Arab foreign ministers, laying out his plans for rehabilitating the Palestinian Authority.

“We have stressed that our commitment to the ceasefire will be based on a national Palestinian agreement,” said Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath, who sent the letters signed by Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia.

During the meeting with the Arab lawmakers, Abbas said he was upset with Israel for holding him responsible for attacks before he has even been sworn in as Palestinian leader, Taleb Al Sana, one of the legislators at the meeting, told Israel Army Radio.

Israel and the United States have said they would judge the new Palestinian leader, who is to be inaugurated tomorrow, by his actions and give him time to prove himself.

But an Israeli Cabinet minister warned earlier that time was running out for Abbas, the first signs that Israel had already lost patience.

“Israel will not accept a reality of continuous terror against innocent civilians. Abu Mazen does not have 100 days of grace,” said Housing Minister Yitzhak Herzog at a funeral for victims of the Karni attack.

In response to the attack, Israel closed the Karni and Erez crossings, leaving Gaza largely isolated. Goods and humanitarian aid flow in to the fenced-in coastal strip through Karni, and the Erez crossing is used by aid workers, journalists, diplomats and some Palestinian workers with jobs in Israel.

Abbas has said he will not use force against militants. Instead, he is expected to try to co-opt them by asking Al Aqsa gunmen, many of them former policemen, to return to their jobs, and by offering Hamas a say in decision-making. The Islamic militant group has also said it would participate in legislative elections in July.

In coming weeks, Abbas is to conduct Egyptian-brokered talks with the militants in Gaza and in Cairo. Egypt has renewed a proposal for a one-year suspension of attacks, according to a senior Hamas official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Militants are divided on how to respond to Abbas.

In the West Bank town of Deir al-Hatab, more than 2,000 Hamas supporters paraded through the streets after prayers, carrying models of rockets, re-enacting a suicide bombing on an Israeli bus and calling for the armed uprising to continue.

But the top Hamas official in the West Bank, Hassan Yousef, said the group is ready to suspend attacks as part of a deal with Abbas. Asked about last night’s attack, Yousef said Hamas had freedom of action as long as there is no agreement.

Israel intends to pull out of Gaza in the summer. Militant groups have been stepping up their attacks in recent months in an attempt to show that they are forcing the Israelis out.

Also today, the Palestinian security chief announced the creation of an elite, 750 member, unit to fight crime in the chaotic Gaza Strip.

The officers will disarm criminals, but will not go after militants involved in attacks on Israelis, said the security chief, Brig Gen Abdel Razek Majaidie.

The Palestinians have been trying to rebuild their security forces, which were weakened by more than four years of fighting with Israel. Since 2000, Israel has repeatedly targeted Palestinian police installations in response to attacks by Palestinian militants.