Abbas Calls Civil War 'Forbidden'

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned Sunday that the raging power-struggle between Palestinian factions must not deteriorate into civil war.

Abbas spoke after meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Egypt - his first high-level meeting with an Israeli official since the Islamic militant Hamas took control of the Palestinian government in March.

"Civil war is the red line that nobody dares cross, no matter which side they are on ... Civil war is forbidden," Abbas said.

His comments came as Palestinian officials said they foiled an assassination attempt senior Gaza security chief Rashid Abu Shbak, an Abbas loyalist.

Security officials discovered a 154-pound roadside bomb shortly before Abu Shbak's motorcade was scheduled to pass through the area. The discovery - a day after Abbas' intelligence chief in Gaza was seriously wounded in an explosion - was likely to further inflame tensions between Abbas and the rival Hamas-led government.

Abbas said he told Livni during the 45-minute meeting that Israel and the Palestinians must restore regular contact and work toward resuming peace talks.

Livni said the roadmap peace plan drawn up by the international community remained in force, though she did not elaborate. The Israeli official also said the Hamas-led government must not gain world recognition.

"It is a terrorist government, on the other hand we want to help the Palestinian people and not to punish them ... This was part of the discussion," she said.

She also said Israel had decided to release $11 million in tax money it had collected on behalf of the Palestinians but was withholding.

Israeli officials and Abbas said the two leaders had discussed preparations for a summit between the Palestinian president and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert once he returns from a trip to Washington that began Sunday.

Israel radio had said Livni and Abbas wanted to form a "bypass" channel to maintain communications without including Hamas in their talks. Abbas wants to resume peace negotiations with the Israelis.

Hamas refuses to recognize Israel and rejects calls for the militant Islamic group to disarm, a stand which has led the U.S. and European Union cut off of vital aid to Palestinians. The lack of funds has thrown the Palestinian territories into financial turmoil.

Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres, who joined the talks, said he had spoken with Egyptian officials at the conference about "how to help the Palestinians get out of the difficult situation that they are in."

At a news conference Saturday at the World Economic Forum in this Sinai Peninsula resort, Abbas said he would open a dialogue with Hamas leaders within the week in a bid to end violence that has rocked the Gaza Strip.

"There is a crisis. We have to look for a solution," he said. "A dialogue will be opened within the next four or five days."

The moderate Palestinian leader also said that there was no path forward for his people but to seek peace with Israel.

Abbas' Fatah movement and Hamas are caught in an increasingly violent power struggle focused on control of the security apparatus in Gaza and are deeply divided on contacts with Israel.

"I have no other option than to seek the road of peace ... Our hands will remain extended in peace. Peace is the only option," Abbas said. The Palestinian leader said he would tell Israeli officials he remained opposed to unilateral Israeli actions to separate itself from the Palestinians.

"The only basis for both sides is the road map," he said, referring to the plan that was worked out by the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia. The effort has been stalled nearly from its inception.

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