Terror groups unimpressed with Mid East peace deal

With the flags of their countries whipping in the wind at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik, Sharon and Abbas met face-to-face at a summit, grinning broadly and surrounded by smiling aides as they leaned across a broad white table to shake hands.

In one sign the talks went well, Egypt and Jordan announced immediately afterward that they would return their ambassadors to Israel after a four year absence – possibly within days.

As part of the deal, Israel will hand over control of five West Bank towns to the Palestinians within three weeks and immediately release 500 Palestinian prisoners.

Those agreements, and the sight of Abbas and Sharon shaking hands, were the clearest signs yet of momentum in the peace process after Yasser Arafat’s death in November and Abbas’ election to succeed him in January.

One Israeli official, Gideon Meir, said “there was a great atmosphere in the talks … smiles and joking.”

“We have agreed on halting all violent actions against Palestinians and Israelis wherever they are,” Abbas declared in a statement made after the summit, as he, Sharon, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan’s King Abdullah sat at a round table.

Sharon made a similar pledge.

“Today, in my meeting with chairman Abbas, 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,” he said.

Abbas said it was time for the Palestinian people to regain their freedom.

And Sharon, in what he said was a direct address to the Palestinian people, said: “I assure you that we have a genuine intention to respect your rights to live independently and in dignity. I have already said that Israel has no desire to continue to govern over you and control your fate.”

As part of the hand over of five West Bank towns, Israeli and Palestinian security commanders are to meet tomorrow to prepare the handover of Jericho, the first West Bank town in the list of five, said Palestinian negotiator Hassan Abu Libdeh.

After the immediate release of 500 Palestinian prisoners, another 400 will be released at a later stage, he said.

Abbas said he expected the ceasefire pledges also to pave the way for resumption of talks on so-called “final status” issues such as borders, refugees and Jerusalem’s status, all within the context of the Mideast road map to peace.

Sharon said he also expected the deal to set the stage for the implementation of the road map.

At the summit, Sharon also invited Abbas to visit him at his ranch in southern Israel and Abbas accepted, Meir said. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said the meeting would take place soon.

Two key Palestinian militant groups criticised the pledges to end bloodshed, but said they will wait to see what comes next before deciding whether to continue attacks.

A Hamas representative said it is not bound by the truce. “Our decision depends on the achievement of a substantial change (in Israel’s position) to meet Palestinian demands and conditions,” said the group’s representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan.

He said in order for a truce to be successful, Israel must release Palestinian prisoners and make a clear commitment to “halt all kinds of aggression against the Palestinian people.”

He contended those conditions were not met at the summit.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip, also dismissed the summit, saying “It did not achieve anything. From our people’s interests, the Israeli position did not change.”

Dr Nafez Azzam, the top Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza, called Sharon’s statement unclear.

“He is not giving any explanation about what he is committing himself to,” Azzam said. “We had mentioned several times before that calm cannot come from one side, and cannot come for free. We will wait for the return of Mr Abbas, and then we will see.”

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia downplayed the Hamas and Islamic Jihad reactions.

“There are good understandings between all the Palestinian groups and factions and leaders. We’ll discuss with them now, immediately, the results ,” he said.

Britain and Germany quickly pledged to do all they could to help both sides.

In London, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw noted there had been “rather too many false dawns” in the long-running conflict. German Foreign Minister Joshka Fischer added from Berlin that “the renewed US engagement is of central significance” to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.