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Abbas sworn in amid violence

Eight Palestinians are killed in Gaza Strip and 46 election officials resign as the new Palestinian leader takes over.

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Mahmoud Abbas extended his hand in peace to Israel as he was sworn in as the new Palestinian leader Saturday, but the Israeli army killed eight Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and 46 election officials resigned over alleged ballot irregularities, crushing optimism for an early resumption of the peace process.

The series of events came only a day after Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, reversing course, cut all ties with Abbas until he reined in Palestinian militants who killed six Israelis during an attack at a Gaza cargo crossing last week.

The resignations of the election officials appeared an attempt to reduce the legitimacy of Abbas' landslide victory in the Jan. 9 vote to replace Yasser Arafat, who died in November.

In his inaugural speech, Abbas condemned violence, urged an immediate cease-fire and said he was extending Israel his hand in peace.

Officials in Sharon's office called the speech disappointing, saying it did not outline how Abbas planned to end attacks on Israel.

Abbas made only a vague mention of how he would deal with the violent groups that are dampening the optimism for peace that sprang up after Arafat died. Many wondered whether the window of opportunity created by Arafat's passing was beginning to close.

Despite the rough start, however, Abbas made a direct appeal to the Israeli people, telling them, "We are two peoples destined to live side by side."

Abbas placed his hand on the Koran during a brief swearing-in ceremony before several hundred dignitaries at Ramallah's shell-scarred Muqata building, where Arafat spent his last years as a virtual prisoner.

Abbas promised to be faithful to the Palestinian dream of establishing a state and demanded an end to the Israeli occupation, the assassinations of militants and the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

At the same time, he condemned violence by both sides, saying it "does not help bring about the calm needed to enable a credible, serious peace process."

"Our hand is extended toward an Israeli partner for making peace," he added. "But partnership is not through words but rather deeds."

In his speech, Abbas made no reference to Israel's decision Friday to suspend contacts until he takes action against the armed groups.

"We were very disappointed with the speech," said David Baker, an official in Sharon's office. The speech "did not provide clear and definitive steps to prevent terror being waged against Israel."

Abbas has said repeatedly that he prefers to co-opt the militants rather than crush them. If he fails to end their violence through negotiations or a crackdown, however, there is little hope for a renewed peace process after four years of Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed.

Reacting to Abbas' speech, militant groups sent mixed messages, saying they reserve the right to continue attacks but indicating they might be ready to reach a deal with the Palestinian leader.

Thursday night's Gaza attack might have reflected militants' desire to prove their strength and compel Abbas to take them into account as he begins his tenure.

Abbas' difficulties were compounded Saturday when 46 members of the Palestinian election commission, including its top managers, resigned.

They said they had been pressured by Abbas' campaign and intelligence officials to abruptly change voting procedures during the election - including keeping polls open longer and allowing voters to cast ballots in any location, not just their hometown - to give Abbas supporters more opportunities to vote.

The resignations raised questions about the vote, though the officials who quit said the alleged irregularities did not fundamentally affect the final tally.

Near the Gaza-Egypt border, Israeli machine gun fire killed two Palestinians and wounded 10, including four children younger than 16, hospital officials said. Two were in critical condition.

The army said the Palestinians were in a forbidden area and three gunmen were in the crowd.

In Gaza City, Israeli troops moved into a neighborhood to stop what the army said was Palestinian rocket fire on the nearby Jewish settlement of Netzarim. Five Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, witnesses said. The army said troops shot at militants who fired antitank rockets.

In a third incident after nightfall, troops spotted two armed men crawling toward an army post in southern Gaza, the army said. The soldiers fired, killing one.

[Last modified January 16, 2005, 00:41:11]