Washington, D.C., February 5 -- The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today urged the strict adherence of all Palestinian factions to the latest ceasefire declared on Saturday. More than 80 Palestinians have been killed in internal fighting this year.

ATFP cautions that Palestinian infighting and the real prospect of a civil war makes it easy for those arguing that the Palestinians either do not deserve or are not ready for a state of their own. It also greatly damages regional and international support for Palestinians and Palestinian statehood. Finally, it diverts attention from the real issues, namely establishing a viable Palestinian state and ending the Israeli occupation of the land occupied in 1967 through a peaceful and negotiated settlement.

Commenting on the internal violence and unity government prospects, ATFP president Dr. Ziad Asali said: "While the political and diplomatic impasse along with the dire humanitarian and economic conditions under occupation have greatly helped in creating the conditions for internal violence, it is incumbent upon Palestinians to exercise self-restraint, discipline and sound judgment. Otherwise the Palestinian national enterprise itself is at risk."

ATFP urges that any prospective Palestinian government formed be done so on unambiguous principles that will allow the lifting of the sanctions regime against the Palestinian people. Such principles should be based on a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the state of Israel and the international community leading to a viable, contiguous and independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.