RAMALLAH,
April 14, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday, April 14, accused Israel of
violating a ceasefire agreement after undercover troops shot dead a
Palestinian activist in the northern West Bank.
He
told reporters the killing was “a totally unjustified violation of
the arrangements from Sharm el-Sheikh”, reported Agence
France-Presse (AFP).
Palestinian
national security advisor Jibril Rajub accused “certain circles
within Israel of looking for pretexts to carry out such actions to
sabotage the truce”.
Israeli
occupation forces gunned down earlier Thursday Ibrahim Smeri, an
activist of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, in the Balata refugee camp on
the outskirts of Nablus.
Abbas
and Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon announced an end to more than four
years of hostilities at a landmark summit in Egypt February 8.
Palestinian
resistance factions, which have been observing a de facto ceasefire,
agreed last month in Cairo to extend the truce until the end of the
year.
Meanwhile,
Abbas issued orders Thursday for the re-organization of the security
services.
Around
a dozen services, including police and national security, will merge
into two separate branches which will both come under the overall
control of Interior Minister Nasr Yussef.
The
intelligence service will remain under the control of the office of
the president of the Palestinian Authority, Abbas.
Sharon’s
Claims
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Palestinians carry body of activist killed by Israeli forces in Balata refugee camp. (Reuters)
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The
Palestinian Authority reacted angrily Wednesday, April 13, to
Sharon’s claims blaming Abbas for slowness in advancing the moribund
peace talks.
“President
Abbas expresses surprise and astonishment at the campaign launched
against the Palestinian Authority during Sharon's visit to the United
States,” the PA presidency said in a statement.
Israeli
top-selling Yediot Aharonot said Sharon accused, during his
summit talks with US President George W. Bush, the Palestinian leader
of being responsible for the stalled peace talks, reported AFP.
“Sharon
tried to sell Abu Mazen to Bush as the bad boy of the Middle East.
Bush was not buying it. On the contrary, he praised Abu Mazen for his
achievements on the ground,” the Israeli daily said.
During
talks at his Crawford ranch, Bush told Sharon Israel could keep the
West Bank settlements in any future peace deal with the Palestinians.
Obstacles
The
PA stressed that Israel has been violating its obligations made during
the Sharm El-Sheikh summit by delaying withdrawal from some West Bank
cities and release of Palestinian prisoners.
“(These
are) obstacles placed before President Abbas's efforts to restore calm
and stability.
“President
Abbas reaffirms that the Palestinian Authority is strong and united
and ready to immediately begin final-status negotiations,” it said,
alluding to Sharon's suggestions that Abbas seemed unwilling or unable
to subdue the Palestinian resistance factions.
The
statement contended that Abbas has the full support of the Palestinian
people to implement his program on reaching peace with Israel.
“Abu
Mazen has been elected by the Palestinian people on the basis of a
clear program of political reform and security.”
