Palestinians ignore ceasefire

RAMALLAH — Palestinian militants aligned to Yasser Arafat said they will ignore the ceasefire agreement with Israel.

The rejection came as violence escalated between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli troops throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In many cases, PA officers participated in the shootouts.

The Palestinian violence intensified to such a point that military commanders threatened to order tank and helicopter fire toward Palestinian cities such as Bethlehem. At the same time, the commanders prepared for a withdrawal on Wednesday of tanks and other heavy equipment from forward positions in the Palestinian territories.

Prime Minister Ehud Barak announced a ceasefire at 2100 hours Tuesday [1400 hours EST]. By Wednesday, Arafat refused to announce a ceasefire as Palestinian attacks intensified on Israeli soldiers, civilians and communities.

On Wednesday, clashes and shootouts resumed throughout the Gaza Strip.

PA sources said Arafat would try to maintain the violence throughout the Arab League summit, which begins on Saturday. The sources said Arafat is concerned that the Arab League summit will not grant more than lip service to the Palestinians in wake of the Sharm e-Sheik agreement.

"The revolt will continue as long as the Israeli occupation, that is the decision of the Palestinian people," Fatah chief Marwan Barghouthi said. "This uprising has laid down a new rule: Let those who want to negotiate do so, but the Palestinian people will continue their struggle. We will no longer be captives of the negotiating table and beg the U.S. and Israeli sides."

A PLO ally of Arafat, Mohammed Abbas of the Palestinian Liberation Front, said his organization planned to launch suicide attacks against Israel.

The Islamic opposition said it would also ignore the ceasefire. "This accord does not commit us because it was imposed by Israel and the United States on the Palestinian people and does not meet their demands," Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin said.

Palestinian sources said two Palestinians were killed and 60 injured on Tuesday. In the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, three Israelis were injured by Palestinian fire. An Israeli border police officer was shot and critically injured from shots fired from a Palestinian sniper.

Near the Jerusalem suburb of Sawahrah, two Israeli soldiers were injured, one of them seriously, by Palestinian gunfire toward a military checkpoint. Israeli troops also came under fire in Bethlehem, Hebron and Tulkarm.

In a related development, Palestinian sources said 10 Palestinians believed linked to the lynching of two Israeli soldiers in Ramallah last week are missing. The sources said five are believed to have been abducted by Israeli security forces.

Israeli military sources said eight suspects have been arrested.