Arab nations quiet over Palestinian ceasefire

A Palestinian officer takes control as Israeli soldiers move out

Key Arab nations that cautiously supported a Mid-East truce to halt Palestinian attacks on Israelis have been tight-lipped since a ceasefire was tabled on Sunday.

Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia and other Mid-East nations issued no reactions after Sunday's announcement of the three-month truce negotiated by the three main Palestinian militant groups - Islamic Jihad, Hamas and Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction.

Observers say the silence indicates Arab governments may be wary of applauding an agreement that is still fragile.

But Jordanian Foreign Minister, Marwan Muasher, backed the agreement on Monday, saying it will "enhance the Palestinians' negotiating capability," Jordan's official Petra news agency reported.

Mr Muasher also welcomed the separate accord under which Israel began withdrawing some of its troops from the Palestinian territories on Sunday night.

We support anything that spares and safeguards Palestinian blood

Jean Obeid
Lebanon's foreign minister

He said it was "an important step toward the honest implementation of the roadmap."

In Lebanon, Foreign Minister, Jean Obeid, said on Monday: "We support anything that spares and safeguards Palestinian blood."

Egypt's fear

Egypt is a key supporter of Mid-East peace efforts, but it is yet to make a comment on developments since Sunday.

Heba Saleh, the BBC's correspondent in Cairo, says Egypt has been heavily involved in the talks which led to the ceasefire.

"Egypt is now hoping the ceasefire will hold and that it will lead to American pressure on Israel to implement its side of the road map," she said.

[The deal] is a temporarily truce and will explode at any moment

Abdel Halem Qandel
Editor of Egypt's al-Araby newspaper

Egypt is concerned the ongoing cycle of violence between Israel and the Palestinians could destabilise the whole region and spill over into Egyptian territory.

But Abdel Halem Qandel, editor of Egypt's pan-Arabist al-Araby newspaper, warned the deal "is a temporary truce, and will explode at any moment."

Syria - which has previously voiced support for Palestinian suicide attacks against Israelis - had hinted it might not oppose the truce.

Syria's Foreign Minister, Farouk al-Shara, said Syria welcomed any united Palestinian stand on how to deal with Israel.

"Considering that Syria is for genuine peace, it blesses any agreement among Palestinians to consolidate national unity among them," Mr Shara said before an agreement had been reached on Sunday.

Forced decision

Fayez Sara, a Syrian political analyst, said the decision by Palestinian militant groups to cease attacks was a "choice made under duress" because of immense international pressure.

"If Israel implements the conditions of the cease-fire - and I don't think it will - the Palestinians would have made an important achievement," he said.

"If Israel does not implement its side of the agreement, we will see a return to violence and suicide operations."

Experts say that Saudi Arabia has been pressing the militants to halt attacks, but there is no official comment from authorities there yet.

Israeli officials have expressed scepticism about the truce, which they fear will be used by militants to regroup for more attacks.