The Palestinian President, Mr Mahmoud Abbas, has proclaimed a formal end to fighting with Israel after more than four years of bloodshed.
"We have agreed with (Israeli) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to cease all acts of violence against the Israelis and the Palestinians wherever they are," Mr Abbas said in a statement at the completion of a landmark summit with Mr Sharon in Egypt.
Mr Abbas's declaration was aimed at solidifying a tacit truce he coaxed from Palestinian militants shortly after he won election on January 9th. Mr Sharon was expected to proclaim a reciprocal end to Israeli military action against Palestinians in revolt.
Mr Abbas, in a dramatic break from longtime predecessor Yasser Arafat, announced an end to all militant attacks in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip and in Israel.
But powerful militant groups have yet to agree a formal ceasefire and Mr Abbas has yet to show he can enforce one.
They have observed a truce for several weeks at Mr Abbas's behest to help him start negotiating for Palestinian statehood but have set conditions for a formal ceasefire that Israel has ruled out in advance.
These conditions have included total Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, which Palestinians want for their future capital, and the "right of return" of Palestinian refugees to what is now Israel.
Militant factions have said they will not be satisfied with Israel's promise to release 900 of 8,000 prisoners, pull back troops from some West Bank cities and stop pursuing wanted men.