Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday that he was keen on ending
all acts of violence on the Palestinian territories and the problem of the
Israeli soldier abducted by Palestinian militant groups.
Abbas, who arrived in the Egyptian Mediterranean city of Alexandria on Friday
for a one-day visit to Egypt, made the remarks at a press conference after his
meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's official MENA news agency
reported.
"So far nothing has been reached to solve the problem of the captive
soldier," said Abbas, adding that he would continue efforts to guarantee the
safety of the soldier and resolve the current crisis.
Asked about the Hamas proposal of teaming up with Hezbollah to negotiate
terms to release of Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners in Israel in exchange for
the three captive Israeli soldiers, Abbas said that the two situations were too
different to coordinate a release.
"We have our own rules and our brothers in Lebanon have theirs," Abbas said.
"Our hearts and our minds are with Lebanon and were fuse all what the Lebanese
people are being subjected to.
"Israel pressed on with its one-month-old military offensive in the Gaza
Strip in a bid to rescue Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier kidnapped by
Palestinian militants on June 25, and halt Palestinian rocket attacks.
At least 160 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched the
offensive on June 28. Israel also continued its military operations in Lebanon.
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel erupted when Hezbollah guerillas
captured two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others during a July 12
cross-border attack.
Israel has insisted on its demand for the unconditional release of the three
soldiers, rejecting a prisoner swap as demanded by Palestinian and Lebanese
militants.
Egypt has long brokered between Israel and the Palestinians over conflict.