RAMALLAH, Jan. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee on Sunday strongly urged the Palestinian militants to halt attacks on Israel.

    It is the first strongest appeal to curb violence against Israel that the PLO, the highest Palestinian decision-maker, has made since the former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died on Nov. 11,2004 in a French hospital.

    The PLO Executive Committee said in a statement following ameeting held in the West Bank city of Ramallah that it "demanded militants to halt all acts that harm our national interests and provide excuses for Israeli aggressions against our people and stability."

    On Sunday, Palestinian militants continued armed attacks onIsrael, firing homemade rockets at southern Israel and Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip.

    Palestinian militants reject Abbas' repeated calls to halt attacks against Israel as three militant groups carried out a joint attack on Thursday at the Karni commercial terminal, killing six Israelis. Three militants were also killed in the incident.Following the attack, Israel decided to cut ties with the new Palestinian leadership and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gaveIsraeli troops free rein to combat militants in the Gaza Strip.Meanwhile, Abbas, the newly-elected Palestinian president, isdue to arrive in Gaza on Wednesday to hold talks with Palestinian militant groups, mainly the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) andthe Islamic Jihad (Holy War) Movement as well as the armed wing ofhis own Fatah movement.

    Musheer el Masri, spokesman for Hamas, said the talks will focuson the Palestinian internal affairs rather than reaching a trucewith Israel.

    However, Nafez Azzam, a senior Jihad leader, stated on Sundaythat his movement would accept a truce with Israel if the Jewishcountry stops attacking Palestinians and carrying out incursions and assassinations. Enditem