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Barak seeks to promote week-long 'humanitarian cease-fire' in Gaza By Aluf Benn, Amos Harel, Anshel Pfefferand Avi Issacharoff Defense Minister Ehud Barak is promoting a week-long "humanitarian cease-fire" in the Gaza Strip. In contrast, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert believes the military operation still has not achieved its goals. Olmert is delaying a meeting with senior ministers in an effort to allow the military operations in Gaza to continue. Advertisement Yesterday, Olmert did not meet with his "troika" - Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, both of whom support a cease-fire. Today, he will not convene the political-security cabinet to discuss whether the operations should go on. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces continued advancing from the northern Gaza Strip toward Gaza City. It is also concentrating forces to potentially deepen the ground offensive. In northern Gaza, an officer was seriously injured by an improvised bomb. Two other soldiers suffered light to moderate injuries. In yesterday's fighting, the IDF killed at least 50 Palestinians, putting the total body count from the 18 days of Operation Cast Lead at 970. Many of the dead are civilians. The IDF also destroyed a tunnel built by Hamas close to the fence, near Nahal Oz. The head of the political-security bureau at the Defense Ministry, Amos Gilad, has postponed a visit to Cairo for talks on a cease-fire, and will probably depart for Egypt only tomorrow. Responding to a call by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for an immediate cease-fire, Barak said yesterday, "We respect the request of the UN Secretary General and are following developments with the Egyptian initiative. However, the fighting is continuing." A senior political source explained yesterday that even though Olmert holds a minority view in the troika, he holds the power because he decides when cabinet meetings will be held, and sets the agenda. The troika is a monitoring and coordinating body, and lacks the authority to broaden or end IDF operations. This can be done only by a cabinet vote. Barak believes Operation Cast Lead has achieved its main objectives, first and foremost bolstering Israel's deterrent power. He does not believe continuing the offensive will bring further gains, but rather only operational complications and casualties. On this point, Barak accepts the view of GOC Southern Command Major General Yoav Galant that expanding the operation and occupying Gaza would require a lengthy deployment - possibly up to a year. Barak is proposing the IDF cease its fire, hold its positions and keep the reservists under arms, and thus negotiate with Egypt and the United States on an arrangement that would include preventing arms smuggling into the Strip. The defense minister is concerned that when U.S. President-elect Barack Obama takes office next Tuesday, he will demand that Israel immediately cease the operation. A tough UN Security Council resolution is also a risk. Livni insists Israel must end the operation without an agreement, enjoying its refreshed deterrence against Hamas. She also believes the mission cannot obtain any more major gains. Meanwhile, senior IDF officers expressed concern yesterday that continuing the fighting would increase the number of casualties. Also yesterday, an Iranian vessel bearing an estimated 200 tons of humanitarian supplies turned away from Gaza. Iran says Israel forced the vessel away; Israel says it took no action against it. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Following Chavez Bolivia cuts ties with Israel, says it seeks war crimes charges. Who needs the Knesset? Arab parties: We'll establish an alternative Arab parliament.

Read & React Olmert ignoring calls from Barak, Livni for immediate Gaza truce Responses: 71 Harel & Issacharoff: Is Hamas waiting on Obama for Gaza truce? Responses: 27 Hamas: We accept Egypt's proposal for Gaza truce - with reservations Responses: 44 Diplomats: Gaza op causing long-term harm to Israel's image Responses: 88 Israel's defense establishment backs an immediate cease-fire in Gaza Responses: 46 More Headlines 23:28 Hamas: We accept Egypt's proposal for Gaza truce - with reservations 00:09 ANALYSIS / Egypt's Gaza truce plan is mostly bad for Hamas 00:46 IDF soldier seriously hurt in anti-tank missile attack in Gaza 23:34 Hamas Health Ministry: More than 1,000 dead in Gaza 00:06 Rice: Olmert's claims regarding my Gaza UN resolution vote are 'fiction' 21:11 Arab parties: We'll establish an alternative Arab parliament 23:48 U.S. authorities remove 'Adolf Hitler,' 2 siblings with Nazi-like names from family home 23:48 For the first time, Gaza militants fire phosphorus shell at Israel 00:28 Author: Report of jihadist death threats to Madonna old news 23:23 Feminist group slams former envoy to UN Gillerman for 'tasteless' jokes about women 19:36 Bolivia cuts ties with Israel, seeks genocide charges against Israeli officials 17:21 3 rockets fired from Lebanon hit north Israel; IDF returns fire 19:58 Four people hurt as fire rages at Ashdod chemical plant 16:53 Israel indicts two Iran TV journalists for reporting on Gaza ground invasion Previous Editions Select Day 14 jan 13 jan 12 jan 11 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan 01 jan

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