(Scotsman-UK) Ben Lynfield - Nabil Amr, a Palestinian legislator and close ally of Mahmoud Abbas, outlined Abbas's coming steps. "He will start immediately to open the political track with the Israelis and he must reach immediate agreement with Hamas and the other factions to calm the situation, to convince Sharon to open a new page for the new Palestinian leadership." "If Abu Mazen succeeds in getting a real easing of conditions, I'm sure he will create a new atmosphere and people will support his strategy." Abbas, said Amr, will ask Sharon to drop the demand specified in the road map that the PA dismantle "terrorist capabilities and infrastructure" and instead accept a ceasefire by the armed groups. "If Abu Mazen succeeds in reaching a ceasefire and containing all these groups, the Israelis must be satisfied. We will not punish any group, we will contain them by our own way, not Sharon's way."
2005-01-11 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive