Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon rejected a Palestinian bid on Monday to win a formal cease-fire with militants, a statement from his office said. "The cease-fire the Palestinians are working for does not give up the terror option, and is not a solution, and to this we cannot agree," Sharon said in a meeting with visiting Dutch Prime Minister Jan Pieter Balkenende after Palestinian armed leaders suggested in Cairo they were ready to offer a formal truce.
According to the statement, Sharon repeated Israel's long-standing demand under the US-backed road map peace plan that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dismantle militant groups rather than negotiate with them.
Sharon said the longer it took Abbas to dismantle the militant groups, the more difficult it would be.
"The terrorist organisations will not give up terrorist actions against Israel and therefore under the cover of temporary quiet, they will hold the political process hostage until they decide to blow up the process," Sharon said.
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