FORMER NETZARIM SETTLEMENT, Gaza Strip: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday urged armed factions to help rebuild the Gaza Strip rather than flex their military muscle as he toured the ruins of Israel’s most hated former settlement

Opening a water well amid the rubble-scarred landscape of Netzarim, Abbas confirmed that resistance fighters had agreed to stop all armed rallies and marches by tomorrow, stressing that now was the time for a united reconstruction effort.

“All factions will participate with the Palestinian Authority in the rebuilding,” said Abbas, inaugurating a well to cater to some 3,000 Palestinians in the village of Al Mughraqa near the former Netzarim settlement.

“It’s an important project to return the greenery to all the Palestinian territories which have been destroyed and bulldozed by Israel. We hope to be the first of all of our re-construction projects,” Abbas said.

His tour of Netzarim, where armed activists have been out in force since Israeli troops left the Gaza Strip on September 12, follows talks with representatives of the main Palestinian factions late on Wednesday.

“What is important is that we decided Saturday will be the last day for military displays in the Gaza Strip and to move on to rebuilding areas which were destroyed by Israel,” said Abbas.

Resistance factions, particularly Hamas, have staged a number of large-scale rallies in the aftermath of Israel’s departure from Gaza as they seek to claim credit for what they see as an act of surrender.

A spokesman for Hamas said the movement was planning to exhibit weapons and military memorabilia used in attacks that it hails as instrumental in forcing Israel out of Gaza, in Neztarim next Saturday.

In the West Bank, around 1,500 Hamas supporters rallied in the town of Ramallah, including masked youths wearing fake explosive belts and carrying makeshift rockets.

The crowds called on Israel to release all Palestinian prisoners and end its occupation of all Palestinian territory, including Arab East Jerusalem.

Under huge pressure from Israel and the international community, Abbas has promised to end the armed chaos in the West Bank and Gaza Strip where resistance groups such as Hamas operate largely above the law.

US State Department officials have criticised the Palestinian Authority’s performance on security as “far from satisfactory” while underscoring the “very real challenges” facing the Palestinian leadership.

Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Nabil Shaath, but no leaders from the principal resistance groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Abbas toured Netzarim, including its greenhouses, at least partially destroyed by looters.

The Palestinian authorities have said 800 of the 4,000 Gaza greenhouses have become unusable because of looters, costing thousands of dollars in repairs before they can be resurrected as money making opportunity.

Hamas has confirmed it has agreed to end its celebratory military parades and armed marches in Gaza towns, but refuses appeals from Abbas, Israel and the international community to disarm before taking part in elections in January.

Behind the majority of anti-Israeli attacks during the last five years of violence, Hamas is hoping to capitalise on its strong showing in recent municipal elections and end the long domination of the governing Fateh faction.

Israel has threatened to hamper the election if Hamas stands despite being urged by Washington to cooperate in organising the January 25 polls.

A Hamas leader yesterday threatened to have Israeli soldiers kidnapped as bargaining chips for the release of Palestinian prisoners at a rally celebrating the Gaza Strip pullout.

“All options are open, including the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers to release our prisoners from Israeli prisoners,” Hassan Yussef told a crowd of 1,500 in the Palestinian Authority’s political capital.

Although the Israeli government has freed 900 prisoners since Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Abbas met at an Egypt peace summit in February, more than 7,000 still remain behind bars.

“No power on earth can take our weapons from our hands: No one can deny our right to struggle,” shouted Yussef, Hamas leader in the West Bank.

DOTAN, West Bank:

Israeli forces yesterday evacuated an old army base in the northern West Bank, near the four settlements it tore down during its pullout, and Palestinians entered the base to celebrate, witnesses said.

The Dotan base was used as a staging area for troops that hauled settlers and protesters out of two of the four settlements last month. Settlers left the other two voluntarily. Witnesses said Palestinian police shot three Palestinian scavengers in the legs.

Earlier yesterday Israeli soldiers shot dead an unarmed Palestinian after he entered the army base which was being dismantled.

The Israeli army said troops shot the Palestinian at the Dotan military base after he failed to heed orders to stop and because they thought he might be a suicide bomber, a fear that proved unfounded.

Palestinian witnesses and security sources said the man was hit in the chest after heading into the base to scavenge for scrap metal. He was pronounced dead at a hospital in the Palestinian-ruled town of Jenin, medics said.