Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas Abbas on Tuesday declared that the PA and Israel have agreed "to cease all acts of violence." "We have agreed with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to cease all acts of violence against the Israelis and the Palestinians wherever they are," Abbas said in a statement at the completion of Sharm el Sheikh summit.
"Peace means the establishment of a democratic Palestinian state alongside Israel," he added.
Moments later, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced an agreement to end more than four years of hostilities between Israel and the Palestinians. "Today we are moving toward goal of peaceful, dignified, quiet lives for all nations in the Middle East," Sharon said.
The Palestinians will end all acts of violence, and Israel will halt all military actions against the Palestinians, Sharon said. "Israel intends to honor Palestinians' right to live in independence and dignity," he added, and called on all those present to "declare that violence won't be allowed to murder hope."
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who summoned the two leaders, said both sides showed a serious desire to "work together truly and sincerely." "The challenges today are large and deep, but the mission is not impossible. If the road is long, we today took the first step," Mubarak said.
"The Palestinian and Israeli peoples equally deserve a secure life for the coming generations to enjoy, based on justice, international principles and good neighborliness," the Egyptian president added in a speech he said he was delivering on behalf of himself and Jordan's King Abdullah II.
Mubarak also said there was now fresh hope for the Syrian-Lebanese peace track. Israeli-Syrian peace negotiations have been frozen since early 2000. "Our goal is lasting peace in the Middle East, therefore, our movement will be followed by other moves to revive both the Syrian and Lebanese tracks," he said.
