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 | | From: | United Press International | | Subject: | Sharon suspends Palestinian talks | | Date: | Fri, 14 Jan 2005 16:10:58 EST |
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JERUSALEM, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Israel Friday suspended all
Palestinian contacts and clamped down crossing areas to protest an
attack that killed six civilians and injured five others.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon "has ordered suspension
of all contacts with Palestinian Authority representatives and the
closure of all Gaza terminals until real steps are taken against
terrorist acts," an Israeli official told CNN.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat criticized the
Israeli action.
"Disconnecting ties with the Palestinian Authority will
never end violence; the resumption of the peace process is the only
way to end violence," said Erekat, who was informed of the decision
by a telephone call from the Israelis.
The Israeli military said it would not reopen the crossing
at Karni where Thursday's attack occurred, would close the Erez
crossing, the main terminal between Israel and Gaza, and continue
the closure of the crossing at Rafah between Gaza and Egypt, CNN
said.
"These terminals serve the Palestinian people. You can't
expect us to keep them open if our people are being killed," the
official said.
Three Palestinians stormed through the Karni crossing
Thursday and opened fire at Israeli civilians, killing six. Israeli
troops returned fire, killing the militants.
Three Palestinian militant groups -- Hamas, the Popular
Resistance Committees and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades -- have
claimed responsibility for the joint attack.
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