GAZA, Dec. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- A senior leader of the Islamic Jihad(Holy War) insisted on Saturday that his movement would reject any ceasefire or long-term truce with Israel.

   Mohamed al Hindi made the remarks to Xinhua in Gaza in his comment to the remarks made by an leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) that Hamas would accept an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza and a long-term truce with Israel.

   "On the light of the numerous statements on cease fire or truce,the Islamic Jihad rejects even discussing this issue and talking about either a short or long term truces," al Hindi told Xinhua.

   He said that "this is the clear position as long as the attacks are continued against our people and the Palestinian territories,"adding "the latest (Israeli) aggression was Friday's assassination of Islamic Jihad militant in Jenin."

   "We reject talking about a truce or a ceasefire as long as the reasons were behind late leader Yasser Arafat are still vague, and we don't know if he died of a food poisoning or radiation," said alHindi.

   His statements came following a meeting between a delegation that represented the movement and Egyptian diplomats at the Egyptian diplomatic office in Gaza.

   Al Hindi noted that the meeting discussed the current political situation as well as the presidential, legislative and municipal elections as well as the declaration of a ceasefire.

   Jihad leaders reiterated to the Egyptian diplomats that they would boycott the presidential elections running and voting, "but participating in legislative and municipal elections has not been decided yet," said al Hindi.  Enditem