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Middle East
Islamic Jihad may halt attacks
Palestinian group responds to request from Mahmoud Abbas.
Last Modified: 20 Dec 2006 01:51 GMT
Palestinian rockets attacks have increased dramatically in recent years

The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad has said it is considering halting its rocket attacks on Israel following a request from Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president.
 
On Friday, Abbas met leaders of the group, which has carried out numerous suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Israeli targets, and urged them to halt the violence.
"Abbas said the truce is a national necessity," said Khedr Habib, an Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza. "We said the truce must be mutual ... and part of a national consensus."
 
Islamic Jihad's website, quoting Khaled al-Batch, another leader of the group, said the Abbas proposal is "worth studying".

While Islamic Jihad is not the only group to fire rockets, it has repeatedly resisted calls from Abbas to end its attacks on Israel.

A halt in rocket fire by the group would be a rare success for Abbas, who hopes to revive peace talks with Israel.

Source:
Al Jazeera
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