2005-2-11
I'm Steve Ember with In the News in VOA Special English.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon met in Egypt this week and declared a cease-fire. The
meeting Tuesday was the first in more than four years between
leaders of the two sides. The current violence between Palestinians
and Israelis began in September of two thousand.
Both men spoke of increased chances for peace. But violence
resurfaced on Thursday. Members of Hamas fired shells and rockets at
Jewish settlements in Gaza, although no one was hurt.
Mister Abbas had deployed a large
security force in the area to prevent attacks on Israelis. After the
shelling, he dismissed three top security officials. Israel praised
the action. But cabinet members said Israel would have to act if the
Palestinians cannot control the situation.
Hamas said it was not trying to break the cease-fire. It said the
attack was in answer to the killing of a Palestinian in Gaza on
Wednesday.
Israel has been urging Mister Abbas to disarm militant groups. On
Friday he went to Gaza to demand that they observe the truce
announced in Sharm el-Sheikh. Earlier he sent a representative to
meet with Hezbollah officials in Lebanon, where that group is based.
Palestinian and Israeli officials have both accused Hezbollah of
plotting to wreck the cease-fire.
In return for Palestinian promises to control violence, Israel
said it would free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners within weeks.
Israeli also promised to withdraw troops from five West Bank towns.
President Bush recently said he would ask Congress for three
hundred fifty million dollars for the Palestinians. The money would
be used to help them develop an independent state.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met separately with Mister
Sharon and Mister Abbas this week. Secretary Rice said the United
States would give the Palestinians forty million dollars
immediately.
In other news this week in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia held its
first open elections. Candidates competed for half the seats on
local councils in the Riyadh area. The national government will
choose the other half.
Close to two thousand men competed for one hundred twenty-seven
seats. Women could not be candidates. They also could not vote. The
government said it did not have enough time to set up separate
voting stations for them.
Still, many voters said the local elections marked the beginning
of democratic reforms. The ruling family is under pressure to give
Saudis more political power.
About one hundred fifty thousand men in and around the capital
signed up to vote. Up to six hundred thousand could have registered.
Unofficial results were announced Friday. News agencies said
Islamist candidates supported by clergy appeared to have won in
Riyadh.
Elections are set for March and April in other parts of the
kingdom.
In the News in VOA Special English was written by Jerilyn Watson.
I'm Steve Ember.