By Barak Ravid and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents, Haaretz Service and Agencies: Abbas: Israel has agreed to cease-fire with Hamas
Talkback
Title:Good Idea
Name:Mark Lincoln
City: HoustonState: Texas
Hamas has long been sending political signals.

It is wise for Israel to respond.

Hamas has long-term goals which will make a settlement with Israel more difficult, but as Israel has made it clear that there will be no settlement with the Palestinians this is not important.

If Hamas wants a cease fire, what has Israel to lose by investigating that?

The answer is simple. IF Israel has no intention of making peace, then the best it can hope for is a cease fire.