Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday the agreement reached by Palestinian military groups in Cairo to stay calm was a "positive step," Israeli Ha'aretz daily reported.

"The arrangement reached in Cairo is a positive first step," Sharon told Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak by telephone.

A statement released by Sharon's office emphasized that for progress to be made in the peace process, the "terrorist" organizations can not continue to exist as armed groups.

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and various Palestinian factions agreed on Thursday to maintain the recent calm with Israel until the end of this year provided that Israel stops its aggressions against the Palestinian people.

Source: Xinhua