Rival Palestinian groups have put up a united front to denounce inter-factional kidnappings and violence that have undermined calls by President Mahmoud Abbas for law and order in the
"We announce all of the military wings are united in their position and faith and that we consider any attack on any one of us as an attack on us all," eight factions, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, said in a statement on Saturday reported by Reuters.
"Any action aimed at spreading chaos or internal strife ... will be considered treason," said the statement, issued at a
"Our response will be unified and swift."
In the latest in a series of kidnappings widely thought to stem from factional rivalries, a Hamas member was abducted by unidentified armed men in the
Weapons
The groups also stated that they have no intention of giving up their weapons or the struggle against Israeli occupation, AFP reported.
"Giving up the weapons would play into the hands of the enemy and any attempt to disarm us would meet strong resistance," the groups said.
"Carrying on the struggle is a strategic choice and the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip does not mean that the Gaza Strip is excluded from the struggle."
The eight groups that issued the statement were the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Al-Qassam Brigades, Al-Quds Battalions, Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, National Resistance Brigades, Nasser Salaheddin Brigades, Abu Al-Reesh Brigades and Martyr Khalid Abu Akir groups.
Abbas has called on resistance groups, which have spearheaded anti-Israeli violence over the past five years, to end what he describes as armed chaos and stop carrying their weapons in public.
Abbas, who declared a truce along with Israeli leader Ariel Sharon last February and coaxed factions into announcing a "period of calm" until the end of the year, wants to co-opt armed men rather than confront them, citing fears of civil war.
The two are expected to meet as early as Tuesday ahead of Abbas's White House talks with US President George Bush on 20 October amid heightened hopes for peacemaking after
Israeli and Palestinian officials plan to meet on Sunday for another round of preparatory talks ahead of the Abbas-Sharon summit, which is not expected to yield any breakthroughs.
Speaking on Israel Radio, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom reaffirmed
"Our demand is unequivocal: they have to act against terrorism decisively," Shalom said.
"I think if they do that, we would be willing to take a long series of measures that would ease things for them. Our aim is to march together towards a resumption of talks, but in accordance with the road map and devoid of shortcuts which the Palestinians are interested in."
Progress reported on border deal
A deal could allow Palestinian residents in the coastal strip relatively free movement but would have to address
Under a compromise proposal brokered by international mediator James Wolfensohn, Palestinian travelers and exports leaving
Incoming goods would be rerouted through Kerem Shalom, an Israeli-run inspection point on the meeting point of Gaza,
Wolfensohn briefed Abbas on the negotiations on Friday and told him that
Wolfensohn told Abbas he hopes to wrap up a Rafah deal by the end of Ramadan in early November, the Palestinian official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorised to talk to the media.
A senior Israeli official said late Saturday that
Housing project
Also on Saturday, the Palestinians broke ground on their first major development project in
PHOTO CAPTION
Media surround masked members of eight armed Palestinian factions during a joint press conference in