2007年VOA标准英语-Palestinian Truce Takes Hold in Gaza

（单词翻译）

By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
30 January 2007

A truce¹ between the Palestinian factions² Hamas and Fatah appears to be holding in Gaza, despite the killing³ of a Hamas militant⁴ in Khan Younis. VOA's Jim Teeple reports from Jerusalem the truce went into effect after five days of intense fighting.

envoy5 of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, 30 Jan. 2007" hspace="2" src="http://www.tingroom.com/upimg/allimg/070518/1050370.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh from Hamas, left, shakes hands with Rauhi Fattouh, an envoy of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, 30 Jan 2007

An Egyptian-mediated truce appears to be holding. Negotiators from Hamas and Fatah reached agreement to stop the fighting that left more than 30 people dead since last Thursday. Hamas Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar said the agreement calls for both factions to return to their bases, release hostages and remove roadblocks from Gaza's streets.

"We are demanding the withdrawal⁶ of all the militants⁷ from the streets as well as obstacles, and the return of all military groups to their origins," said Zahar. "Lastly we are calling on both Hamas and Fatah to commit and respect and fulfill⁸ previous agreements."

Previous truces⁹ between Hamas and Fatah have not lasted long, with both sides using a lull¹⁰ in the fighting to regroup and rearm.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and in a move sure to be rejected by Hamas he called for the abolition¹¹ of a large Hamas militia¹² known as the Executive Security Force, which he described as unconstitutional.

Mr. Abbas says he hopes Fatah and Hamas can reach agreement on a unity¹³ government, but if that does not happen he says he will call early legislative¹⁴ and presidential elections.

The Palestinian president also condemned¹⁵ a suicide bombing Monday in the Israeli city of Eilat that was carried out by a young Palestinian from the Gaza Strip. Hamas officials called the bombing a legitimate¹⁶ act of resistance against Israel.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces bombed a tunnel on the Gaza-Israel border they say was going to be used by Palestinian militants to attack Israel. Israel and the Palestinians agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza last November.

Aides to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Israeli newspapers that Israel's military will not re-enter the Gaza Strip, but will focus on strengthening security along Israel's border with Egypt's Sinai desert. Israeli authorities say the suicide bomber¹⁷ who attacked Eilat traveled from Gaza into Egypt and then crossed into Israel.