RAMALLAH, Feb. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The imprisoned former Fatah leaderin the West Bank Marwan Barghouti has called for intensified dialogue between the Palestinian Authority and various factions toreach a comprehensive national agreement on all issues including cease-fire with Israel.

    Barghouti's appeal was conveyed by Arab member in the IsraeliKnesset (parliament) Jamal Zahalqa on Saturday.

    Zahalqa told reporters that he visited Barghouti in Israeli jailon Friday evening.

    Barghouti said he supported cease-fire and considered it achance to activate the peace process towards ending the Israeli occupation on all the Arab and the Palestinian lands.Barghouti, sentenced to five life imprisonment by a Israeli court last June on conviction of terror attacks, said that the Palestinians had a bitter experience with Israel which was always responsible for violating the cease-fire in the past.He also asserted that Israel must take steps to stop building the barrier wall and expanding the settlements, to remove the checkpoints and road blocks and release Palestinian prisoners.He added that deeds not words was the only criterion for theIsraeli intentions.

    Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is to hold talks with militant groups in Gaza on observing a mutual ceasefire he declaredat a summit in Egypt on Tuesday with Israel prime minister ArielSharon.

    But Hamas, which refused to be bound by the truce agreement,renewed rocket attacks on Israeli settlements in Gaza Thursday torevenge for the killing of a Palestinian man by the Israeli armygunfire from a settlement in southern Gaza the day before. Enditem