US: Ceasefires can be broken

2005-02-08 22:34

Washington - Aware of the tattered history of past ceasefires in the Middle East, the United States state department cautiously welcomed on Tuesday the announcement by the Israeli and Palestinian leaders that all fighting between the two sides would cease.

Spokesperson Adam Ereli complimented the "bold leadership" of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas and said ending attacks was a step toward dismantling Palestinian terror groups.

"We are very heartened by what has transpired in Sharm el-Sheikh and we will continue to help the parties as they move forward toward Palestinian statehood and a peaceful settlement," he said.

Mindful that about 10 ceasefire announcements in the past four years of Palestinian uprisings had been followed by violence, Ereli said, "Let's be realistic.

"A ceasefire is just that, a ceasefire. It can be broken. We understand that."

Terror infrastructure

The US official expressed hope that an end to violence would encourage Abbas to dismantle the terror infrastructure in Palestinian areas of the West Bank and Gaza.

"It is a necessary first step," Ereli said of the key US and Israeli demand.

It was important to maintain the momentum of the Egyptian seaside summit and develop training programmes for Palestinian security forces, as well as to reform Palestinian institutions and increase co-operation with Israel, he said.

While the agreement to stop fighting was reached without direct US intervention, it "does not necessarily mean that, somehow, we are standing by, decreasing our commitment or our support for these efforts", said Ereli.

"America is committed to helping the parties achieve peace and achieve two states," he said.

- AP