Hamas dismisses Arafat call to declare new ceasefire

[QuietStorm]

2 hours ago

Hamas rejected on Thursday an appeal by Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat to renew a cease-fire with Israel after it was called off following the assassination of one of its leaders last week.

“Hamas rejects the appeal (by Arafat) to resume the ceasefire as the Zionist occupation has torpedoed the truce with its assassinations of women, children and Palestinian political leaders,” Hamas political leader, Dr. Abdelaziz al Rantissi told AFP.

“We cannot speak about a truce while aggression against the Palestinian people continues.”

Arafat said in a statement Wednesday that a renewal of the truce would “give a chance to all peaceful international efforts for the implementation of the roadmap.” more...

http://www.albawaba.com/news/index.php3?sid=257283&lang=e&dir=news

very short blurb ABC:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/weekly/newsnat-28aug2003-52.htm

BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3187491.stm

[tinnypriv]

1. Apparently the Israeli security establishment

Is predicting the cease-fire will be back on within a week.