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A division has erupted between the two top Palestinian leaders over British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s planned conference scheduled for London in February. Mahmoud ‘Abbas, the front-runner going into January’s presidential elections, has welcomed the parley which will focus on security and economic reforms in the Palestinian Authority. It was originally intended to be an international peace conference, but Israel rejected that format and apparently was backed by Washington on its objection. Israeli Prime Minister Sharon has endorsed the parley, but will not allow Israeli participation. But Ahmad Qurei’, the present prime minister, has broken ranks with ‘Abbas on the issue. Qurei’ said on Thursday that what is needed is a peace conference, not a meeting, and objected to Blair’s comments that Palestinian reforms must come before peace talks can proceed. Qurei’ said that the Palestinians, “are capable and have the means and expertise for peace and negotiations… It is the Israeli side that requires rehabilitation for peace, not us…”
Dozens of mortar rounds fell on Israeli communities in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, only hours after the latest Israeli army operation to end the shelling concluded. Israeli security sources say that no one terrorist organization is responsible for the nearly constant launch of Qassam rockets and mortars, but that Hamas is taking the lead among the groups. One man who is a resident of the Gush Katif bloc of communities in Gaza was injured in Thursday’s barrage.
Hamas says two of its members were killed early Friday morning when the explosives they were preparing to use in a terrorist attack exploded prematurely. The pair died in the Khan Younis refugee camp where the Israeli army has been operating in an attempt to stem the launching of rockets. Also on Friday, three armed Palestinians were shot and killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Tul Karem. The trio was spotted by Israeli soldiers and a gunfight ensued during which the three died.