Thirty-two years ago today, on September 24, 1993 (August 9, 1993 lunar calendar), the PLO ordered a cessation of military operations. On September 24, 1993, PLO fighters received an order from Arafat, chairperson of the organization's executive committee, to cease all military operations against Israel. According to reports from the occupied Palestinian territories, Joshua Jouda, the leader of one of the PLO's main Fatah forces in the Gaza Strip, told the press in Rafah today: "We abide by President Arafat's ceasefire decision." He added: "We have stopped military operations against the Israeli army and Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel." Barak, chief of staff of the Israeli armed forces, confirmed that PLO guerrillas had stopped military operations. He told the Israeli newspaper Evening News that the leadership of the PLO has ordered the Palestinian armed forces to stop military operations. Israel's Evening News today quoted Prime Minister Rabin as saying that Israel and Syria are currently negotiating the framework of a draft peace agreement, but the two sides still have deep differences. Rabin told the Hebrew-language newspaper that Israel and Syria are discussing a "draft agreement in principle", but this draft is still stuck in the chapter "involving the degree of withdrawal and the meaning of peace." The report also quoted a senior Egyptian official as saying that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said during a meeting with Rabin on the 19th of this month that Syria is ready to normalize relations with Israel and achieve a comprehensive peace, provided that Israel recognizes Syria's sovereignty over the Golan Heights and withdraws from the Golan Heights within a few months. The official said Mr. Rabin was not "thrilled" by the proposal. Speaking today to another Israeli newspaper, Izvestia, Mr. Rabin said Syria had not yet made clear what kind of peace it wanted. He also accused Syria of supporting Palestinian militant groups opposed to Israel's deal with the PLO and of preventing Israel from reaching a peace deal with Lebanon.