Source

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon have declared a truce to end four years of Middle East violence.

Mr Abbas said the ceasefire, which begins immediately, would lead to a "new era of peace and hope".

Mr Sharon vowed to cease military action against Palestinian targets after militant groups halted violence.

In response, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said it was the best chance for peace in years.

The truce was announced at talks between Mr Sharon and Mr Abbas in the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Sheikh.

They were the highest-level talks between the two sides since the Palestinian intifada (uprising) began more than four years ago.

The talks were also attended by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah.

Israeli officials said after the summit that Mr Sharon had invited Mr Abbas to his farm in southern Israel.

Speaking in Paris, the US secretary of state welcomed the truce.

"Success is not assured, but America is resolute," she said.

"This is the best chance for peace we are likely to see for some years to come - and we are acting to help Israelis and Palestinians seize this chance."

The BBC's Heba Saleh in Sharm al-Sheikh says Mr Abbas so far seems to have secured an informal truce by Palestinian factions, but it is not clear whether they will accept the Israeli offer.

Hamas militants gave a lukewarm reaction to the summit, with the group's representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, saying the ceasefire declarations were "not binding" on its members.

Mr Hamdan told the Associated Press news agency that Mr Abbas had taken a "unilateral stand" that was "not the result of the outcome of an intra-Palestinian dialogue".

'New era'

TV pictures showed Mr Abbas and Mr Sharon smiling as they shook hands across a table at the talks.

The two leaders said they aimed to stop violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

"We have agreed on halting all violent actions against Palestinians and Israelis, wherever they are," Mr Abbas said.

"The calm which will prevail in our lands starting from today is the beginning of a new era."

Mr Sharon said: "For the first time in a long time, there is hope in our region for a better future for us and our grandchildren."

He said Israel had made some painful sacrifices for the Palestinians.

"To our Palestinian neighbours, I would like to promise that we have a genuine intention for you to live in independence. We do not want to control your lives," he said.

Mr Sharon also reaffirmed his promise to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and said the two sides had agreed on transferring "certain Palestinian areas" from Israeli to Palestinian control.

Under the arrangement, Israel will withdraw its troops from Jericho and four West Bank towns within three weeks, Palestinian negotiator Hassan Abu Libdeh later told AP.

Envoys to return

Mr Mubarak, who hosted the talks, hailed their "positive spirit".

"The task is very great, but our hopes are greater," he said.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told reporters at the summit that Egypt and Jordan would soon be returning their ambassadors to Israel after a four-year absence.

Mr Sharon had refused to meet the previous Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, saying he was an obstacle to peace.

But since Arafat's death and the election of Mr Abbas as president of the Palestinian Authority, the Israelis believe they have a partner they can do business with, says BBC World Affairs Correspondent Paul Welsh.

[ 02-08-2005, 02:58 PM: Message edited by: dplax ]

I'm sure Hamas and all the other boyscouts couldn't care less about any treaties with the Zionist demons.

Yes, but surely the fact that the Israeli's have something to fall back on (after all, they agreed to this) surely helps their international credibility.

Indeed Sir D, I think I'd rather be Sharon than Abbas at this moment! Israel's engagement can only be a good thing for its image; lets just hope that the US advisors are able to do a decent job organising the Palestinian security forces.

I wouldn't have too much blind trust in the Israeli government. As long as they can't keep their own settlers in check, every treaty is bound to go to waste. Today they come to terms, tomorrow the shooting continues, because some Jewish knuckleheads decided to start building another settlement on soil that the Palestinians regard as their own.

Beats me why anyone would want to live in such a hostile environment to begin with.

How about several thousands of years of history.

Also despite moving here many children of immigrants have a very strong pull to visit the lands their ancestors left behind.

I'll believe it when I see it. Hope it does hold. That would be amazing.

I couldn't agree more. Talk is cheap and action is what counts.

No matter how much history bounds me to my homeland, if every time i go to the supermarket i have to be afraid someone is gonna shoot me, or blow himself up right in front of me, i'd seriously consider moving somewhere else. And that has nothing to do with chickening out or anything, i just don't think that's a healthy environment to live my life in.

Sure, but for Israeli's its a matter of pride and principle. Plus, Israel is a tiny state - if people started leaving it would gravely compromise the future of the country. Also, why would they want to move back to Europe? Rising anti-semitism in Europe combined with the original belief that Jews would only be safe from persecution if they had their own state is a powerful reason to stay put.