Palestinian factions meet to decide on a broad cease-fire

CAIRO, Egypt -- Egypt urged unity Tuesday among leaders of militant Palestinian factions, trying to strengthen Mahmoud Abbas' hand as the Palestinian leader began a tough sell of a one-year cease-fire with Israel.

Already under pressure from Israel, Abbas is trying to persuade the militant groups to live by the 12-month truce, even though Israel says a year is not enough.

"The coming period requires all forces to work with more responsibility, and to behave with greater political consciousness," Egypt's intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, said as the meetings began.

Leaders from 13 factions sat around a table as Abbas told them that fewer militant attacks have eased the Palestinians' plight. "There is no alternative but for dialogue between us now," he said.

The talks were expected to last several days. The faction leaders say they're not interested in agreeing to a cease-fire unless Abbas can secure their demands from Israel -- including Palestinian prisoner release, an end to military incursions into Palestinian towns, and a halt to the "targeted killing" of militants.

"The challenges that Palestinian society faces are great and numerous, and require that differences be put aside and that a clear agreement be reached on the elements of Palestinian action in the coming period," Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said.

Egypt is also pushing the incentive of granting the militant groups a greater stake in decision making.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has cast doubt on the truce effort, saying it is no solution unless the factions give up "the terrorism option" entirely. His foreign minister, Silvan Shalom, said the peace process could be damaged further unless more is achieved.

"Just an understanding is not enough because it will allow the terrorist organizations to rebuild," Shalom said in Jerusalem. "An easing off is not a cease-fire and it can bring the destruction of the peace process."

Abbas also accused Israel of not fulfilling the commitments it undertook at the recent summit in Sharm el-Sheik.

"The situation on the ground went on unchanged, with the continuation of the settlement activities, building of the racist separation wall, and the continuation of the siege and closures and checkpoints," Abbas said.

The talks -- the fourth attempt to unite and quiet Palestinian militancy since the uprising started anew four years ago -- opened in a climate seen as more conducive for a breakthrough than in the past.

Egyptian officials close to the talks said Cairo is also pushing a broader one-year truce as well as participation by militant groups in Abbas' Palestinian Authority.

Hamas, which had boycotted elections for the past decade, has said it will compete in the July 17 vote for the Palestinian legislative council, a major challenge to Abbas' Fatah movement.

Abu Imad al-Rifaei, an Islamic Jihad delegate to the talks, said his group would not take part in the election.

The Middle East political landscape has shifted since the November death of Yasser Arafat. Abbas is a leader viewed as less inclined to block peace efforts, and Egypt and Jordan have resumed normal diplomatic ties with Israel and taken steps to resolve areas of friction and advance cooperation.

The United States has also stepped up pressure on Syria to shut down offices of Damascus-based Palestinian militant groups, and is pushing non-Arab Iran over nuclear activities and allegations it supports and finances Palestinian militants.

Delegates said they were reviewing a proposal by Abbas and backed by Egypt for a one-year broad truce -- stopping all attacks on Israel. But some of the leaders of the factions told The Associated Press that would require significant Israeli concessions.

Mohammed Nazzal, a Hamas leader at the talks, said the militant group will only agree to a long-term cease-fire if Israel responds favorably to its demands.

"If the Israelis do not respond to our basic conditions, quiet will not last a long time," he said ahead of the talks.

"We're ready to discuss quiet, but we are not ready to discuss a truce," Nazzal said later.

Abbas has made it clear a total halt of attacks is necessary for his plans to persuade Sharon to resume peace talks and secure some of the militants' demands.