Jordan Times
Wednesday, February 9, 2005
New era as Abbas, Sharon
declare ceasefire
Amman, Cairo to reinstate envoys to
Tel Aviv
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh, Jordan Times with agency dispatches
SHARM EL SHEIKH, February 9 - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Tuesday declared a joint ceasefire at a landmark
summit here, ushering in a new hope for restoring peace in Middle East.
“We have agreed with Prime Minister Sharon to cease all acts of violence against
the Israelis and Palestinians, wherever they are,” Abbas told the summit, hosted
by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and attended by His Majesty King Abdullah.
The breakthrough was made under the supervision and joint efforts of Jordan and
Egypt, which both announced reinstating their ambassadors to Tel Aviv.
Amman and Cairo pulled out their diplomats shortly after the start of the
Intifada in September 2000 in protest against Israel's “excessive use of force
against the Palestinians.” Foreign Minister Hani Mulki told reporters following
the summit that the Cabinet would announce the dispatch of Jordan's new
ambassador to Israel, Maarouf Bakhit, during today's session. Bakhit, an
academic, is currently the Kingdom's ambassador to Turkey. Mulki said today's
breakthrough on the Palestinian-Israeli track heralded a new stage that requires
the presence and work of a Jordanian ambassador in Tel Aviv.
The landmark summit in the Red Sea resort was the first highest-level meeting
between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in years.
“We agreed that all Palestinians will stop all acts of violence against all
Israelis everywhere, and, at the same time, Israel will cease all its military
activity against all Palestinians everywhere,” Sharon said. “We have an
opportunity to turn our back on the bloody path imposed on us over the last four
years.”
Sharon expressed intention to respect the right of Palestinians to have “a
decent and independent life,” saying the Jewish state has no wish to control
them.
But he warned that the opportunity at hand was “fragile” and cautioned from
“extremists waiting to derail the process.”
According to top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, the two sides still have
major differences over crucial issues including Israel's controversial barrier
and settlements.
Other sources said differences between Abbas and Sharon prevailed over the issue
of Palestinian prisoners and Israel's assassination of Palestinian fighters.
Israel said it would release 900 prisoners — out of the detained 8,000 — with a
first batch of 500 set to be freed “soon.”
However, Amira Oron, in charge of the Israeli foreign ministry's public
relations, said the 900 were not involved in attacks against the Jewish state.
Oron told The Jordan Times that Israel agreed to stop its targeted killing
operations against faction leaders as long as the Palestinian Authority keeps
them under control.
Erekat told reporters that both sides agreed to establish several joint
committees to determine the criteria for the release of Palestinian prisoners
and oversee the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from West Bank cities.
Israeli troops are expected to start withdrawal from Jericho, Tulkarem,
Qalqiliya, Ramallah and Beit Laham, Oran said, adding that both sides have not
agreed yet on a timetable for the redeployment.
The Palestinians and Israelis showed positive signs to renew peace negotiations
following Yasser Arafat's death and the election of Abbas.
And US President George W. Bush is making a push for peace between both sides,
who accepted his invitation to visit the White House.
“This is a new beginning,” Erekat said, urging the US to exert all possible
efforts in order to facilitate for a meaningful negotiations that would lead to
the implementation of the two-state vision, as well as to move away from its
“policy of what is possible to what is needed.”
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in Paris shortly after a trip to the
Middle East, hailed the meeting.
“Success is not assured, but America is resolute: This is the best chance for
peace we are likely to see for years to come — and we are acting to help
Israelis and Palestinians seize this chance,” she said.
The international community gave a warm welcome to the signs of a revival in the
peace process.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder welcomed the ceasefire announcement as a
sign of “modest, but nevertheless important progress.”
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, on a visit to the Gaza Strip, said that
“today in Sharm El Sheikh, dialogue is resuming again... and there cannot be
peace if there is no dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.”
Officials said Sharon and Abbas are also expected to meet soon at the prime
minister's ranch in southern Israel.
Hamas, meanwhile, dampened some of the optimism by declaring that it was not
bound by the ceasefire announcement.