Israel, Palestine announce cease-fire

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, right, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, left, also known as Abu Mazen, shake hands prior to their delegations’ meeting at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, Tuesday. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Associated Press Writer

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt — Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas declared Tuesday that their people would stop all military and violent attacks against each other, pledging to break a four-year cycle of bloodshed and get peace talks back on track.

With their national flags whipping in the wind, Sharon and Abbas met face-to-face at a Mideast summit, smiling broadly as they leaned across a long white table to shake hands. In one sign the talks went well, Egypt and Jordan announced afterward that they would return their ambassadors to Israel after a four-year absence — possibly within days — and the Israeli foreign minister said other Arab countries might follow.

But the Palestinian militant group Hamas immediately called the deal into question, saying it would not be bound by the cease-fire declarations and was waiting to see what Israel would do next.

As part of the deal, Israel will hand over control of five West Bank towns to the Palestinians within three weeks and immediately release 500 Palestinian prisoners.

Those agreements, and the sight of Abbas and Sharon shaking hands, were the clearest signs yet of momentum in the peace process after Yasser Arafat’s death in November and Abbas’ election to succeed him in January.

One Israeli official, Gideon Meir, said ‘‘there was a great atmosphere in the talks ... smiles and joking.’’

An invitation to both sides to meet separately with President Bush at the White House this spring added another round of momentum on the summit’s eve.

‘‘We have agreed on halting all violent actions against Palestinians and Israelis wherever they are,’’ Abbas declared in a statement made after the meetings, as he, Sharon, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan’s King Abdullah II sat around a round table.

Sharon made a similar pledge.

‘‘Today, in my meeting with chairman Abbas, we agreed that all Palestinians will stop all acts of violence against all Israelis everywhere, and, at the same time, Israel will cease all its military activity against all Palestinians everywhere,’’ he said.

Abbas said he expected the cease-fire pledges to pave the way for resumption of talks on so-called ‘‘final status’’ issues such as borders, refugees and Jerusalem’s status, all within the context of the Mideast ‘‘road map’’ to peace. Sharon said he also expected the deal Tuesday to set the stage for the implementation of the ‘‘road map.’’

Sharon also invited Abbas to visit him at his ranch in southern Israel and Abbas accepted, Meir said. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said the meeting would take place soon.

Sharon said he would like the next meeting between the two leaders to be in the West Bank town of Ramallah, according to an adviser, Raanan Gissin.

The White House commended the leaders on their commitment.

‘‘The cessation of violence and terrorism are important steps on the path to ending terrorism in the region and dismantling the terrorists’ infrastructure,’’ spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters on Air Force One as Bush flew to a speech in Detroit. ‘‘The United States will continue doing its part to help the parties move forward.’’

As part of the handover of five West Bank towns, Israeli and Palestinian security commanders are to meet Wednesday.