Abbas vows peace push at post-Arafat election rally

Emergent Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas drew cheers at his first election rally yesterday by vowing to follow in Yasser Arafat's footsteps while stressing he would seek a state via peace talks with Israel.

Mr Abbas's appearance before thousands in a sports stadium in the ancient West Bank town of Jericho was notable for his rapport with the crowd after decades as a sober, publicity-shy deputy to the charismatic Mr Arafat.

Cheers and chants repeatedly interrupted his speech and Mr Abbas, 69, smiled broadly and raised his arms each time, looking for the first time like a natural politician thriving in front of a large audience.

Mr Abbas has repeated Mr Arafat's stand that Palestinians will settle for no less than a state in all of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital and the "right of return" of refugees to what is now Israel.

Israel rules out such an outcome. But after boycotting Mr Arafat as an alleged mastermind of bloodshed, Israel and chief mediator the United States have warmed to Mr Abbas as someone they could deal with because he has condemned violence as a mistake.

Mr Arafat died at the age of 75 of an undisclosed illness in a hospital near Paris on November 11.

"Our (political) positions are the positions of Arafat," said Mr Abbas. "(But) we want an authority based on institutions and the rule of law. We have chosen negotiations and peace as the path to achieve our rights."

Mr Abbas has raised hopes for Middle East peace by quickly becoming the overwhelming favourite to succeed Mr Arafat in a January 9 presidential election, riding a significant swing in popular sentiment in favour of negotiations.

"Although views may differ (among Palestinian factions on how to reach statehood), we are all sons of the homeland. I say: No to infighting, yes to national unity," said Mr Abbas.

Security was very tight around Mr Abbas because of fears of threats from powerful militants who reject any ceasefire and have insinuated he might "capitulate" in talks with Israel.

But following the speech, spectators were allowed to flow onto the stadium stage to shake hands with the candidate.

A large poster hung in the stadium showed Mr Abbas and Mr Arafat standing on either side of the al-Aqsa Mosque which symbolises the Palestinian claim to East Jerusalem.

But people in the crowd shouted slogans for democratic reform rather than chants about "martyrs marching to Jerusalem", a phrase often used by Mr Arafat and denounced by Israel as inciting suicide attacks.

Mr Abbas's rise has stirred new optimism about peace and diplomatic efforts to revive negotiations frozen since 2000.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has called 2005 a year of opportunity and offered to coordinate his plan to quit tiny Gaza. But he rules out meaningful talks until militant attacks cease and says Israel will keep part of the West Bank forever.