Palestinian Groups Sign Truce Proposal

JERUSALEM - Several Palestinian Arab terrorist groups signed off yesterday on a Hamas-sponsored temporary truce proposal that the Islamist movement says could bring calm to Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip and ease the 10-month economic siege of Gaza.

But a cease-fire appears unlikely. Israeli officials say it would merely be a pretext for Hamas and other terrorist groups to rearm for a new round of hostilities.

The Hamas initiative calls for a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian Arab terrorist groups in Gaza. In return, the border between Gaza and Egypt would be opened, which would essentially end the blockade imposed after Hamas took control of the territory this June.