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Sources: Egyptians talking cease-fire with Palestinian militants
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- An Egyptian delegation has begun a series of meetings in Gaza with representatives from several Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas, in an effort to negotiate a cease-fire with Israel, Palestinian sources told CNN. The Egyptians also will encourage the groups to cooperate with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, the sources said. The delegation met first with top Palestinian Authority security officials on Sunday before meeting with representatives militant groups, including Hamas, according to Palestinian sources. The Egyptians planned to meet separately with Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmad Yassin, the sources said. Members of Hamas met Friday night with officials of the Palestinian Authority, including Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat, according to the sources. Hamas, a Palestinian Islamic fundamentalist organization, is labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department. The group's military wing has acknowledged terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and military personnel. Abbas -- popularly known as Abu Mazen -- has been trying to restart cease-fire talks with the militants since June 6 when Hamas dropped out because it disagreed with Abbas' denouncement of the armed Palestinian intifada. Abbas made the statement at the June 4 Israeli-Palestinian summit at Aqaba, Jordan. Maj. Gen. Amos Gilad, coordinator for Israeli activities in the territories, and Palestinian security chief Mohammed Dahlan promised to meet again Sunday after holding high-level security talks Saturday night. A U.S. team led by Assistant Secretary of State John Wolf, the Bush administration's new point man in the Middle East, is expected to take part in the security meetings. Wolf also plans to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian officials Monday. The Palestinians want Israeli forces out of Gaza, where they have been operating since mid-May in an effort to find those responsible for terror attacks. Early Sunday, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinian gunmen in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, killing one Palestinian identified by Israel as a militant from the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. (Full story) President Bush, spending Father's Day weekend with his father and other family members at the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, told reporters Sunday "that the free world, those who love freedom and peace, must deal harshly with Hamas and" other militant groups who engage in deadly violence. "The message is clear," he said. "Prime Minister Abbas wants peace, Prime Minister Sharon wants peace, America wants peace, the European Union wants peace. But there are clearly killers who don't." Bush said he would "lend the weight" of his government to support the drive for peace, which he predicted would succeed, but only with "a lot of work." CNN correspondents Kelly Wallace, Jerrold Kessel and producer Talal Abu Rahma contributed to this report.
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