OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 22 February 2003 — The Palestinian leadership called for a one-year “demilitarization” of the uprising yesterday, while Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon continued to try to woo his left-wing rival into a national unity coalition.
Two Palestinians were also shot dead in the Gaza Strip in fresh violence which capped a week of bloodshed during which 34 Palestinians and four Israelis were killed. Palestine Liberation Organization No. 2 Mahmud Abbas, better known by his nom de guerre Abu Mazen, said after meeting in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov that “the Palestinian leadership has decided to demilitarize the intifada for one year”.
He stopped short of clearly calling for an end to the armed struggle against Israeli occupation. But his wording implied an end to attacks not only against civilians inside Israel but also Jewish settlers and soldiers, going further than past calls by the Palestinian leadership.
Abu Mazen, a likely candidate for the newly created position of Palestinian prime minister, said the truce could be a step toward implementation of a peace roadmap — drawn up by the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia — which calls for a Palestinian state by 2005.
Sharon, meanwhile, met with the Amram Mitzna for the third time yesterday in a last-ditch bid to convince the Labour Party leader — who has consistently refused to compromise his dovish platform by entering a coalition — to join a national unity government.
The premier’s office said the talks lasted two hours and would resume after Shabbat tonight, but commentators were pessimistic about the talks.
Meanwhile violence continued in the Gaza Strip. Israeli military sources said the army killed a Palestinian who attempted to enter the northern Jewish settlement of Dugit. A few hours later, another Palestinian was shot down by border guards at the Erez crossing point, also in the north, after attacking the post with hand grenades and an assault rifle.
