RAMALLAH, 16 January 2005 — After being sworn in, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vowed yesterday to reach a peaceful end to the Middle East violence against a grim backdrop of deadly clashes in Gaza and a freezing of contacts by Israel.

In his inauguration speech, delivered six days after his landslide victory in the election to replace the late Yasser Arafat, Abbas told MPs that he wanted a mutual cease-fire and Israelis must learn to share land with the Palestinians if their four-year conflict was to be brought to an end.

But as he spoke, a fresh wave of violence was unleashed by Israel in the Gaza Strip where seven Palestinians were killed.

Two of the main fighter groups also poured cold water on the prospects of a cease-fire, stressing what they called the legitimacy of “armed resistance” as a form of self-defense against the Israeli military.

But Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said Abbas would meet with the groups — Hamas and Islamic Jihad — tomorrow in the hope of trying to win a cease-fire agreement.

Abbas’ speech came amid the continuing fallout from Thursday’s attack on a Gaza border crossing point, in which six Israelis were killed and has prompted Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to freeze all contacts.

“We are seeking a mutual cease-fire to end this vicious circle,” Abbas said.

“In the last few days, a number of incidents have taken place. We condemn these actions, whether by the Israeli occupation forces or the reactions of some Palestinian factions.

“This does not help bring about the calm needed to enable a credible, serious peace process.”

But Israel attacked Abbas’ speech, saying he had failed to include a clear denunciation of attacks.

“We are disappointed by the ambiguous declarations of Mahmoud Abbas and especially the fact that he did not express the slightest intention to combat terrorism,” government spokesman Avi Pazner said.

He said a failure by Abbas to fulfill a campaign pledge to take action against armed militants would “undermine his authority” and prevent a resumption of dialogue with Israel.

Abbas, however, reaffirmed his commitment to the road map peace plan which calls for an end to attacks by Palestinians. The blue print calls for the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel but has made next to no progress since its launch amid continuing violence.

— With input from agencies