Militants reject Abbas 'halt rocket attacks' appeal
The Islamic Jihad militant group has rejected a call from Mahmoud Abbas to halt rocket attacks on Israeli towns – dealing a new blow to the Palestinian leader and prompting a new round of Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip.
In another setback for Abbas, a last-minute dispute within his ruling Fatah Party yesterday threatened to divide the movement a day before a key election deadline.
The dispute between Fatah veterans and its “young guard” was the latest sign of disarray in the party, which faces a stiff challenge from the Islamic group Hamas in January 25 parliamentary voting.
Abbas travelled to Gaza yesterday for talks with the militant groups, in part to halt growing violence along Israel’s border with Gaza. Israel has put heavy pressure on Abbas to stop militants from firing rockets.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, a participant in the meeting,said Abbas urged all Palestinian groups to honour a ceasefire reached with Israel in February.
“We demand everyone be committed to the truce,” Erekat said. “We consider the truce a matter of high national interest.”
But Islamic Jihad, responsible for most of the rocket fire, rejected the appeal. Spokesman Khaled Batch accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire and said attacks were the only proper response.
“I think the continuation of resistance is what’s better for the Palestinian people,” he said.
New rocket fire was reported in southern Israel last night and the army quickly responded with an air strike on a suspected launch site in northern Gaza. There were no reports of injuries.
Since Israel’s withdrawal in September from the Gaza Strip, militants have continued to fire home-made rockets into southern Israel. Although the rockets are notoriously inaccurate, more Israeli towns, including the city of Ashkelon, are in rocket range now that Israel is out of Gaza.
Israel has responded with numerous air strikes on suspected launch sites in northern Gaza. Prime minister Ariel Sharon has approved a buffer zone in northern Gaza, although the army said it has not yet implemented the plan - which includes firing on anyone who enters the area.
Last night, the Israeli air force dropped leaflets into northern Gaza, warning residents to stay out of areas used by militants to fire rockets.
“Terror organisations continue to launch projectile rockets at Israeli territory from your neighbourhoods,” the leaflet said. “Presence in areas used for projectile rocket launching puts your life in danger.”
US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said Israel had responded to attacks on its own territory.
“What we would like to see is effective measures against such acts so that the measures Israel is taking are not necessary,” Ereli said.
An increase in violence could undermine Abbas as Fatah gears up for the parliamentary election. Adding to his troubles, Fatah has been bitterly divided between party veterans and a young generation of activists demanding a bigger role in party decision-making.
Abbas was racing to repair the rift ahead of a deadline today for the party to submit its final list of candidates for the parliamentary election.
Two weeks ago, the young guard broke off from the party to protest at Fatah’s list of candidates and submitted its own list. Eager to bring the young guard back, Abbas agreed to redraw the party’s list of candidates, giving top positions to younger activists.
A Palestinian court on Monday agreed to reopen the registration period, clearing the way for Abbas to present the new list. The court set Wednesday as the new registration deadline.
But hours before the deadline, the simmering dispute erupted again. Members of the young guard accused Abbas of caving in to the old-timers and restoring them to top spots on the party list.
