Palestinian factions including Hamas have begun talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on an Egyptian plan to end attacks against Israeli civilians.

Khaled Mashaal, the head of Hamas's political bureau, arrived for the meeting on Friday after speculation about who would attend.

Israel has responded to attacks by destroying the homes of radical Palestinians

About 10 groups ranging from Yasser Arafat's mainstream Fatah movement to Marxist and Islamist groups are now believed to be represented.

But Hamas and another militant group, Islamic Jihad, said earlier that they would reject the Egyptian peace plan and were only interested in Palestinian political issues at the talks.

Only Fatah has endorsed the truce proposal so far.

Analysts say the chance of an agreement emerging from Egypt's proposal for a one-year ceasefire is slim and Israeli officials have already said they expect no positive outcome.

Heavy casualties

Radical Palestinian groups have carried out dozens of suicide bombings against Israelis since the Palestinian uprising, or intifada, began in September 2000.

In that time, more than 2,000 Palestinians and more than 700 Israelis have been killed.

In the past, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have said that strikes against Israeli targets will continue as long as Israeli forces occupy land seized in the 1967 war.

Egypt, which in 1979 signed the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab state, has long played a mediation role in the Arab-Israeli conflict.