Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., October 19, 2008 Tishrei 20, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:21 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Hamas likely to extend truce with Israel, say Gaza sources By Avi Issacharoff , Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel News, Gaza Strip  Hamas is likely to seek to extend its truce with Israel for another six months, Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip predicted Thursday. The current six-month truce, brokered by Egypt, expires in December. A senior Hamas official told Haaretz that the Islamic group has not yet made a decision on extending the truce. "To date, Israel has not met its commitments regarding the transit of merchandise to the strip," he said. "Our focus [in talks] with Egypt is currently the issue of reconciliation with Fatah, but it is not inconceivable that the issue of the cease-fire could come up for discussion. If Israel meets its commitments, Hamas will seek to continue the truce." But other sources in Gaza predicted that Hamas would seek to extend the truce even if Israel does not reopen the border crossings completely, to give it more time to consolidate both its rule in the strip and its political challenge to Fatah. As evidence, they noted that it had recently muted its complaints against Israel over arrests of its operatives in the West Bank - though in part, that is because such arrests are increasingly being carried out by the Palestinian Authority rather than Israel. Advertisement They added that Hamas has no interest in opening a front with Israel as long as its relationship with Fatah remains unsettled. Related articles: Hamas sponsors mass wedding for 72 grooms injured while fighting Israel Fatah rejects Hamas request for bilateral negotiations Sources: Hamas has raised price of Shalit deal in wake of Kuntar release Bookmark to del.icio.us   Plumber for president Forget Obama and McCain in the presidential election, vote for Joe the plumber. High tech spies New book explores: Is Israel's booming high-tech industry a branch of the Mossad?   1.   No Truce without Gilad 05:38  |  Miche Norman 17/10/08   2.   War against Hamas. 07:34  |  Jean Van Daem 17/10/08   3.   farce truce for friers 08:50  |  Ilan 17/10/08   4.   israelagainstterror.blogspot, ENOUGH already 09:57  |  Akiva P 17/10/08   5.   # 2 Jean Van Daem 11:34  |  guy 17/10/08   6.   No truce without Gilad 15:58  |  Jonathan 17/10/08   7.   Why not 17:52  |  Mark Lincoln 17/10/08   8.   NO SCHALIT, NO TRUCE EXTENSION 18:41  |  dav zee 17/10/08   9.   They haven`t kept the first one! 19:02  |  rigma 17/10/08   10.   Israel against terror! 19:04  |  rigma 17/10/08   11.   More Israelis Must Die - Cries the Right 20:59  |  Mark Lincoln 17/10/08   12.   To Guy # 5 - Haplessly unaware of the facts 22:19  |  Dagma 17/10/08   13.   #9 Dagma 23:23  |  Philip 17/10/08   14.   History for you Dagma 00:11  |  Mark Lincoln 18/10/08   15.   Release Palestinian prisoners for Gilad Shalit 02:04  |  Ben Alofs 18/10/08   16.   Phillip - well sort of 02:09  |  Mark Lincoln 18/10/08   17.   Not quite Philip 02:13  |  Mark Lincoln 18/10/08   18.   Hamas likely to extend truce. 10:19  |  David Nigel Braham 18/10/08   19.   Truce with Israel...... 10:52  |  Dolly 18/10/08   20.   To Ben Alofs # 15 - Well UNDERSTOOD 11:11  |  Dagma 18/10/08

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