The militant Islamic group Hamas accused visiting Central Intelligence Agency director Mr George Tenet today of inciting Palestinian infighting and vowed the movement would continue its attacks against Israelis.
Mr Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi, a top Hamas official, said the US envoy , who met Israeli and Palestinian officials yesterday to try to end nearly nine months of bloodshed, would fail to stop the Palestinian uprising.
"Mr Tenet is trying to turn the struggle into a Palestinian-Palestinian struggle by inciting thePalestinian Authority against its own people and giving excuses for the Zionist aggressors," Mr Rantissi told Reuters.
"He (Tenet) will fail to do so as the Palestinian Authority will not succumb to pressures. H ismission will not bring stability and will not stop the Intifada (uprising)," he added.
At talks in Tel Aviv yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon again called on Palestinian officials to arrest members of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups, responsible for scores of suicide bombings in Israel, a source in Mr Sharon's office said.
Mr Rantissi vowed his group would continue its fight against Israeli targets in Gaza Strip, the West Bank and inside Israel.
"Every invader of Palestine is a criminal and an aggressor and therefore he is a target," he said.
Asked about ceasefires declared by Palestinians and Israelis, Mr Rantissi said Israel was not committed to the media ploy it had announced.
Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat has ordered a ceasefire in Palestinian territories in what analysts say is an attempt to avoid Israeli military retaliation for a Hamas-claimed suicide attack that killed 21 Israelis in Tel Aviv last Friday.
At least 450 Palestinians, 110 Israelis and 13 Israeli Arabs have been killed since a Palestinian uprising erupted against Israeli occupation last September after peace talks stalled.