day Israeli incursion into Khan Younis refugee camp that ended on Jan. 2. Palestinian fighters have spurned calls from Abbas, known to many as Abu Mazen, to cease attacks that he says are pointless because they draw heavy Israeli retaliation. Israel has cranked up raids into Gaza to curb the mortar and rocket salvoes. "Abu Mazen's statements shocked the Palestinian people and contradicted the consensus," said Sami Abu Zuhri of Hamas. "Resistance will continue until occupation ends", he added. In Jerusalem, an Israeli religious party agreed to join Sharon's coalition, clearing the way for a unity government designed to overcome far-right resistance to his plan to withdraw settlers from Gaza later this year. "I believe that as early as next week we will present in the Knesset (parliament) a new government that will lead the state of Israel. The people chose us to lead it to peace and security, calm and prosperity," Sharon told supporters. --More 2318 Local Time 2018 GMT
