Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., April 05, 2008 Adar2 30, 5768 | | Israel Time: 06:46 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Al Aqsa Marytrs Brigades commander in Jenin Zacharia Zbeidi, one of the wanted men who renounced violence and handed over their weapons as part of an amnesty deal with Israel. (Asaf Sudri) Last update - 16:01 05/08/2007 PA: Some 300 Fatah gunmen accept amnesty deal with Israel By The Associated Press More than 300 West Bank gunmen have so far surrendered their weapons as part of an amnesty deal with Israel, a senior Palestinian security official said Sunday. The gunmen included in the deal are members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a violent offshoot of moderate Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement. Al Aqsa was founded at the outbreak of the second Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation in 2000, and its members carried out scores of shooting attacks. After the fall of Gaza to the Islamic militant Hamas in June, Abbas said he would no longer permit militias to operate in the West Bank, a Fatah stronghold. Hamas, which calls for the destruction of Israel and opposes peace talks, said more than 400 of its activists in the West Bank have been detained since June. Advertisement At the same time, Israel's military offered amnesty to gunmen with ties to Fatah, which recognizes Israel and advocates the creation of a Palestinian state alongside it. The senior Palestinian security official said all but three Al Aqsa members have surrendered their weapons and sworn off violence, as part of the arrangement. He said 25 members of the violent Islamic Jihad group in the West Bank town of Jenin also asked for amnesty, but that leaders of the group opposed the idea. Islamic Jihad's ideology is similar to that of Hamas. The Palestinian official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not permitted to discuss the issue with reporters. Related article: Fatah men, including Zbeidi, turn in their guns in amnesty deal Bookmark to del.icio.us   Lost giant Endangered sea turtle washes up on Gaza's shore and is eaten. Not worried Nearly half of Israeli Arabs say let Iran develop nukes.   1.   They are finally coming to their senses 15:52  |  ottomatik 05/08/07   2.   Deal 15:54  |  Joni 05/08/07   3.   Abbas and his gunmen 16:00  |  Asaf Noyman 05/08/07   4.   # 3 Why do positive acts..... 16:59  |  Lynn 05/08/07   5.   #3 Asaf 17:27  |  Space 05/08/07   6.   May all Palestinians recognize their jewish neighbor. 17:29  |  Michael Korn 05/08/07   7.   And Their Sidearms? 18:54  |  Yosemite 05/08/07   8.   Space, no, as I indicated in my original post: 19:23  |  Asaf Noyman 05/08/07   9.   turning in weapons 19:45  |  Shimon List 05/08/07   10.   Space or Uranus? #5 19:53  |  Tex 05/08/07   11.   Turning in arms by the Terrorisrs 19:54  |  Mena 05/08/07   12.   Good for Hammas takeover W.B 19:59  |  Colen 05/08/07   13.   The way to peace... 20:53  |  Danny Sher 05/08/07   14.   #11..Mena 21:09  |  Nemesis 05/08/07   15.   texass 21:11  |  Space 05/08/07   16.   Lies, lies, and more Palestinian lies 21:13  |  D 05/08/07   17.   example for tex 21:13  |  Space 05/08/07   18.   Hamas 22:11  |  Ellen Rosser 05/08/07   19.   Hamas 22:15  |  Ellen Rosser 05/08/07   20.   I hope they keep their word 22:27  |  Mark Lincoln 05/08/07   21.   This is a trick 22:40  |  KUTW 05/08/07   22.   Space and Morality 23:31  |  Tex 05/08/07   23.   We are a bunch of stupid pussies 05:14  |  Hymie Zoltsveis 05/04/08

Today Online Israel and U.S. to coordinate on boycott of anti-racism meet Responses: 204 Former militant leader: The Palestinian people is finished Responses: 207 Poll: Nearly half of Israeli Arabs say let Iran develop nukes Responses: 51 Hamas: Gaza sniper aimed for Public Security Min. Dichter Responses: 81 Syria: We choose peace, but we're ready for Israeli attack Responses: 55 Rosner's Domain Government trying to block witness in AIPAC trial (WTR) Rabbi Yoffie vs. Pastor Hagee What is worth fighting for? Intermarriage pushes the question: what does it mean to be Jewish? Israel Factor: McCain-Barak, the dream team More Headlines 01:25 12 Palestinian prisoners break out of Nablus jail 00:46 Hamas: Gaza sniper aimed for Public Security Min. Dichter 03:33 Orthodox rabbi speaks at event marking 40th anniversary of MLK assassination 22:18 Putin: Moscow committed to hosting Mideast peace meet 16:07 Gazans eat endangered turtle termed 'as good as Viagra' 01:16 Obama, Clinton, McCain to co-Chair Israel 60th committee 22:58 T-shirt mogul apologizes to Woody Allen for image of him as Hasid 10:47 'Marching toward total ruin' 16:36 Israel, U.S. to coordinate on boycott of Durban II conference 11:00 Syria: We choose peace, but we're ready for Israeli attack 06:09 Vatican assures Jews of its respect despite tension over revived prayer 18:11 Two men suspected of attempted rape released after complainants recant 10:42 Health Ministry: 'Complacence, negligence' cause patient's death 04:45 U.K. Foreign Sec.: Israel's future depends on Palestinian statehood Previous Editions Select Day 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar

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