Palestinians plan new truce talks in US

Legislator Hatem Abdel-Qader said he and his colleagues had been invited by Democratic members of Congress for what would be their first US visit since the start of a three-year uprising for statehood in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The officials were scheduled to leave early on Sunday to hold talks over three days to explore the possibility of obtaining US guarantees behind a potential cease-fire deal to calm the violence raging in the Palestinian territories.

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

"The aim of this visit is to try to get US guarantees to reach a mutual truce," such as a commitment to post international monitors to enforce a cease-fire, Abdel-Qader said.

The planned talks are touted to be the most prominent by Palestinians held in Washington since former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas met President Bush in July.

Abdel-Qader said the delegation also has meetings planned with American Jewish leaders, David Satterfield, deputy assistant secretary of state for Near East Affairs and Dennis Ross, a former Middle East envoy who heads a think-tank called the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Abdel-Qader is to be accompanied by lawmaker Qaddoura Fares and Ahmed Ghneim, a senior Fatah official. Arafat, who is shunned by Washington, has no knowledge of the visit but "would welcome any such meeting," a senior aide, Ahmed Abdel-Rahman, said.

AFP adds: The Israeli army is deploying thousands of reservists to the West Bank and Gaza Strip after intelligence reports that Palestinian militants were planning more attacks, reports and military sources said.

The Israeli media reported that five reserve battalions -- which are each composed of at least 500 troops -- had been called up on the orders of Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz, despite the misgivings of chief of staff General Moshe Yaalon.

According to army radio reports Sunday, the five battalions will be mobilised for three weeks in order to replace regular army units who are due to undergo training.