
A cease-fire appears to be emerging between Israel and Palestinian terrorist groups. "As far as we understand, there is an agreement [between Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas] and the heads of Hamas and Islamic Jihad for a ceasefire for a certain period... about a month," Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told Israel Radio. Abbas has been negotiating with terror chiefs in Gaza, hoping that a cease-fire will clear the way for reviving peace talks with Israel. Mofaz added that Israel would respond positively to a Palestinian truce. "As long as there is quiet there is no reason for us to act," Mofaz said.