Last Update: 08/02/2005 13:51 PM meets Abbas in Sharm, will call for 'deeds, not words' By Aluf Benn, Yossi Verter and Arnon Regular, Haaretz Correspondents, and Agencies SHARM EL-SHEIKH - Following a short delay, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met Tuesday with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, at a summit expected to mark a formal end to more than four years of hostilities between Israel and the Palestinians.
shaking hands across the table.
Also present at the summit are Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the initiator and host of the summit and Jordan's King Abdullah II.
The prime minister first met with Mubarak, for the first time since Sharon's election in 2001, and later met with Abbas.
Sharon also invited Mubarak and Abdullah to visit Israel. According to Israel Radio, both leaders accepted the invitation.
According to Israeli sources, Abbas will announce a cease-fire at the summit, while Sharon will promise to end Israeli military operations in the territories if the Palestinian violence stops. The two sides have been discussing the new security arrangements to be announced at the summit for the past few weeks.
"Today must signal a new beginning between Israelis and Palestinians," Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat told Army Radio on Tuesday.
A spokesman for Sharon said each side would make a separate declaration of an end to violence rather than signing a written cease-fire agreement.
"It's a message of hope for the future. lets turn a new leaf," said Ra'anan Gissin.
Sharon was to speak of the importance of not missing the opportunity that has been created, call for "deeds, not words" in the war on terror and reiterate Israel's commitment to the road map peace plan. He was also to emphasize his determination to carry out the disengagement plan, but say that Israel is interested in coordinating it with the Palestinians.
He was also to express the hope that if the disengagement passes peacefully, it could serve to "jump start" the road map. Finally, he was to detail Israel's planned goodwill gestures to the Palestinians, such as the release of 900 prisoners.
Abbas was to reiterate his declaration from the 2003 Aqaba Summit about the need for the PA to have a monopoly on armed force within its territory. He was also to express his hope that the current Israeli-Palestinian dialogue will lead to implementation of the road map, while warning that many thorny issues, such as the separation fence and the settlements, remain to be addressed in the future.
The four leaders were to hold a press conference after their meeting at which each will deliver a speech, but to avoid the emergence of public disagreements, they will not take questions from reporters. The press conference was to be followed by a luncheon for the leaders and their entourages.
Sharon, on his first visit to Egypt since being elected, was also to meet separately with Mubarak during the summit.
On Monday, the Israeli and Palestinian teams exchanged copies of Sharon's and Abbas' speeches and tried to soften controversial passages.
While the summit is taking place, Egyptian security officials will continue a round of talks in the territories with Palestinian security officials and the heads of the Palestinian militias in an effort to finalize the cease-fire arrangements.
In Israel, police stepped up the alert level throughout the country Tuesday morning, due to numerous intelligence warnings of possible attempts by terrorists to disrupt the summit with an attack inside Israel. Police also beefed up their deployment and established mobile checkpoints on various roads. Television pictures showed Abbas and Sharon smiling andshaking hands across the table.Also present at the summit are Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the initiator and host of the summit and Jordan's King Abdullah II.The prime minister first met with Mubarak, for the first time since Sharon's election in 2001, and later met with Abbas. (Click here for scheduled timetable of events) Sharon also invited Mubarak and Abdullah to visit Israel. According to Israel Radio, both leaders accepted the invitation.According to Israeli sources, Abbas will announce a cease-fire at the summit, while Sharon will promise to end Israeli military operations in the territories if the Palestinian violence stops. The two sides have been discussing the new security arrangements to be announced at the summit for the past few weeks."Today must signal a new beginning between Israelis and Palestinians," Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat told Army Radio on Tuesday.A spokesman for Sharon said each side would make a separate declaration of an end to violence rather than signing a written cease-fire agreement."It's a message of hope for the future. lets turn a new leaf," said Ra'anan Gissin.Sharon was to speak of the importance of not missing the opportunity that has been created, call for "deeds, not words" in the war on terror and reiterate Israel's commitment to the road map peace plan. He was also to emphasize his determination to carry out the disengagement plan, but say that Israel is interested in coordinating it with the Palestinians.He was also to express the hope that if the disengagement passes peacefully, it could serve to "jump start" the road map. Finally, he was to detail Israel's planned goodwill gestures to the Palestinians, such as the release of 900 prisoners.Abbas was to reiterate his declaration from the 2003 Aqaba Summit about the need for the PA to have a monopoly on armed force within its territory. He was also to express his hope that the current Israeli-Palestinian dialogue will lead to implementation of the road map, while warning that many thorny issues, such as the separation fence and the settlements, remain to be addressed in the future.The four leaders were to hold a press conference after their meeting at which each will deliver a speech, but to avoid the emergence of public disagreements, they will not take questions from reporters. The press conference was to be followed by a luncheon for the leaders and their entourages.Sharon, on his first visit to Egypt since being elected, was also to meet separately with Mubarak during the summit.On Monday, the Israeli and Palestinian teams exchanged copies of Sharon's and Abbas' speeches and tried to soften controversial passages.While the summit is taking place, Egyptian security officials will continue a round of talks in the territories with Palestinian security officials and the heads of the Palestinian militias in an effort to finalize the cease-fire arrangements.In Israel, police stepped up the alert level throughout the country Tuesday morning, due to numerous intelligence warnings of possible attempts by terrorists to disrupt the summit with an attack inside Israel. Police also beefed up their deployment and established mobile checkpoints on various roads.
Israeli and Palestinian flags
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palesinian President Mahmoud Abbas today declared an end to military and violent activities against each other. The two leaders made the expected announcement at a summit held at Shram el-Sheikh, Egypt, the first such meeting between the two sides in four years.

Prime Minister Sharon pledged to end military operations against Palestinians, and President Abbas similarly said that the Palestinians will likewise end "all acts of violence against Israelis....wherever they are". Both leaders expressed hope that the agreement will lead to long term peace in the long-running conflict. Prime Minister Sharon said that the agreement is part of the goal of "quiet, dignified and peaceful lives for all the nations in the Middle East". President Abbas said "the calm that is currently prevailing in our territories signals the start of a new era, the start of a hopeful peace." Both sides also confirmed their intent to create an independent Palestinian state. The talks became possible in the renewed optimism after the death of Yassir Arafat and the election of Abbas.

The agreement marks a profound change in Israeli-Palestinian relations, but the negotiated truce is a shaky peace. The ability of President Abbas to exert control over Palestinian militant groups is questionable, and thorny political issues remain for the Israelis if they begin to withdraw settlers from the occupied territories. There are signs that the Palestinian resistance groups are willing to participate in the cease-fire: the terrorist organisation, HAMAS released a statement in the hours before the summic stating that "was prepared to calm down resistance raids in the event the Zionist entity reciprocated," referring to Sharon's pledge to stop military activities, yet shortly after the summit a spokesman for the organization said it will not be bound by the cease-fire.

The agreement includes a pledge by Israel to release 900 Palestinian prisoners, to create join committees on prisoner release and the withdrawal of troops from Palestinian territories, and cooperation with Palestinian security forces in occupied areas.