Palestinian cabinet minister reax

(10 Jun 2003) 1. Palestinian Cabinet Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo arrives 2. Cutaway, Yasser Abed Rabbo talking to journalists 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yasser Abed Rabbo, Palestinian Cabinet Minister "This attack today in Gaza, aims at the destruction of the road map and of the the efforts exerted by Mr Bush and his administration in order to start the process of implementing the road map. This attack is directed against the efforts of the Palestinian government to pacify the conditions on the ground and to start Palestinian dialogue with Hamas and other factions, in order to have a Palestinian unanimous position concerning the ceasefire and a truce so that we will be able to implement all our commitments that are included in the road map. This is an attack against the roadmap, this is an attack against the efforts of George Bush, this is an attack that aims at to destroy the efforts that are being made by the Palestinian government, in order to start Palestinian national dialogue and to reach an agreement with different Palestinian factions concerning truce and ending violence" 4. Yasser Abed Rabbo departs in car STORYLINE: Palestinian Cabinet minister Yasser Abed Rabbo has accused Israel of trying to sabotage the "road map" peace plan with its attempted assasination of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi in Gaza City on Tuesday. Rantisi's jeep was being driven down a busy street when Israeli helicopter gunships fired several missiles at it causing it to burst into flames. Witnesses said Rantisi, 56, suffered injuries to his right leg, and that two bystanders were killed in the attack. Cabinet Minister Rabbo called Tuesday's strike "an attack against the roadmap", aimed at destroying efforts being made by US President George W. Bush and the Palestinian government, in their committment to the peace plan. One of the conditions of the latest Middle East peace plan is that Palestinians must disarm and dismantle militia groups responsible for killing hundreds of Israelis in 32 months of fighting. Tuesday's attack came as militant group Hamas said it was considering resuming talks with the Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas on ending attacks on Israelis. That announcement came after various Palestinian factions, including Hamas, met on Monday night in Gaza City to plan their next move. On Tuesday the leader of the Hamas Islamic militant group said it would resume talks, just four days after breaking off such contacts. There has been intensifying pressure from Egypt on Palestinian militias to halt shootings and bombings aimed at derailing the peace plan, which is intended to lead to Palestinian statehood by 2005. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...