December 23, 2001	Sunday	Shawwal 7, 1422

GAZA CITY, Dec 22: The Palestinian leadership has hailed the decision by the Hamas to halt suicide and mortar attacks against Israel.

In a statement issued after its weekly meeting and carried by the official WAFA agency, the leadership said Hamas’ announcement “serves the national interest and foils (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon’s plan to sabotage the peace process and break the international consensus on the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

Members of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority ministers took part in the meeting, which was chaired in the West Bank town of Ramallah by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

In its statement, the Palestinian leadership said “it will not tolerate any violation of its political and security decisions,” and described as “suspect attempts to sow discord” the clashes which pitted guerillas and Palestinian police on Thursday and Friday in the Gaza Strip, leaving seven dead and dozens injured.

Deal reached: The Palestinian Authority and the Hamas have reached an agreement whereby Hamas’ Gaza spokesman Abdul Aziz Ranteesi would remain under house arrest, Israel Radio and Palestinians sources said on Saturday.

Ranteesi has been in his home in Gaza city guarded by Hamas members since Palestinian police tried and failed to arrest him on Thursday.

Under the new agreement, Palestinian police would replace the Hamas members guarding Ranteesi, thus effectively placing him under house arrest.—AFP/dpa