Arab League welcomes code of honor by Palestinian factions

The Arab League on Sunday welcomed the "code of honor" reached by eight Palestinian factions to end inter-Palestinian fighting and inter-Palestinian blood-letting.

Assistant Arab League Secretary General for Palestinian Affairs Mohamed Sobeih described the matter as "a most welcome positive step." It is the first in a series of steps towards reaching a Palestinian-Palestinian understanding during this extremely crucial and sensitive juncture in Palestinian history, he said.

Warning against sinister attempts to drive a wedge between the Palestinian people, Sobeih told reporters that he doubted that the new document would encourage Israel to observe a cool-off.

"I don't think that calming down is on the Israeli agenda," he said. He accused Israel of endeavoring to spread chaos in Gaza Strip to undermine all efforts to establish a Palestinian state, and further move in the West Bank.

He said he does not think the news of the code of honor would be welcome by certain Israeli quarters. It would not appeal to those Israelis who do not wish good for the Palestinians, he said.

He further stated that the Palestinians should work hard to render the document a success, calling upon Arab countries to offer more political and economic support to the Palestinians. Sobeih said he was skeptical about the prospective Palestinian-Israeli summit.

"We doubt that the Israelis are serious," he said. He noted that the Israelis would be using summit for public relations consumption."