LINK

September 18, 2001 Posted: 11:16 AM EDT (1516 GMT)

GAZA CITY, Gaza (CNN) -- The Israeli Defense Ministry says it is canceling all offensive operations against the Palestinians after Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat reaffirmed his determination to honor a cease-fire.

Arafat ordered his security commanders not to fire on Israeli targets even when under fire from Israeli forces -- the first time he had told his police officers not to shoot back in self-defense if attacked.

The U.N. envoy to the Middle East, Terje Roed-Larsen, told CNN: ''We are at a new juncture and can move forward for the first time in a long time. However the situation on the ground is very fragile."

Arafat said he had instructed his commanders to "act intensively" in securing a cease-fire with Israel and appealed again for the resumption of talks.

The order on Tuesday came after a night of fighting in which two Palestinians were killed -- one in Hebron and one in Nablus.

In his statement Arafat said: "This morning I have reiterated my orders to all my security commanders to act intensively in securing a cease-fire on all fronts, and in every town and village.

"I also instructed them to exercise maximum self-restraint in the face of Israeli aggression and attacks."

Arafat, who also said the Palestinian Authority is ready to join an international coalition against terrorism, added: "We, Palestinians and Israelis, have to work together to break the vicious cycle of violence.

"Let us get together, let us sit down and negotiate peace, let us improve the lives of Israelis and Palestinians and move towards a just and lasting peace and cooperation."

Shortly afterwards, the Israeli Defense Ministry confirmed it was halting all offensive operations against the Palestinians.

CNN's Mike Hanna said the cease-fire announcements were a "very powerful" development and an indication that U.S pressure in the aftermath of the hijack attacks on New York and Washington was "bearing fruit on the ground."

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres told CNN: "The world is facing an unbelievable danger and we have to put aside secondary skirmishes."

Peres added that there would "undoubtedly" now be a meeting between the two sides -- possibly within days if the truces held.

Arafat and Peres had been scheduled to meet Sunday, but that meeting was called off by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Sharon has said that the meeting can go on if there is a 48 hour period with no terror attacks.

Speaking at a special Knesset session called to demonstrate solidarity with the United States following last week's terror attacks, Sharon said that if Arafat declared a cease-fire, Israel would immediately cease all its initiated actions against the Palestinian Authority.

Then, the prime minister said, after 48 hours of complete quiet, Peres and Arafat could meet to discuss ways of stabilizing the cease-fire.

-- Debra (Thisis@it.com), September 18, 2001

Answers

Oh goody, another cease-fire. The "peace process" continues. Rots of ruck.

-- (Shigeo@bunker.#3), September 18, 2001.

Geez, sometimes I wonder why I even bother. Has anyone else ever had this feeling?

:)

-- Debra (Thisis@it.com), September 18, 2001.

Yes, Debra. In fact, it sits on my left shoulder and whispers into my ear. So if ever we sit conversing over a pot of Earl Grey and you see me swiping at the airspace over my left shoulder...you'll know why. :)

-- Rich (living_in_interesting_times@hotmail.com), September 18, 2001.