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Last update - 00:11 18/01/2009
Barak: Israel 'very close' to achieving goals in Gaza
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
Tags: Gaza, Israel News, Hamas, IDF

Prime Minster Ehud Olmert on Saturday night announced that Israel's security cabinet has voted in favor of a unilateral cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, which will come into effect at 2 A.M.

The announcement comes after three weeks of fighting in the coastal strip, as Israel launched a massive military offensive aimed at halting years of daily rocket fire on its southern communities. Palestinian sources say that more than 1,100 Gazans have been killed since the offensive began on December 27. Three Israeli civilians and 10 Israel Defense Forces have been killed during that period.

The decision to launch the cease-fire was approved during a lengthy security cabinet meeting which began after sundown in Tel Aviv. Two ministers were against the move, and another abstained.
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"Our fight is not with the people of Gaza," Olmert said at the Tel Aviv press conference following the cabinet meeting. "We left Gaza in 2005 with the intention of never returning," he said, referring to Israel's unilateral withdrawal of troops and settlers from the territory under former prime minister Ariel Sharon.

Olmert warned that Iran, through its proxies Hezbollah and Hamas, was trying to establish its own hegemony in the region. He said that Hamas had underestimated Israel's decisiveness, had been "surprised" by the launch of the offensive, and was still not fully aware of how badly it had been damaged.

Olmert said that "if Hamas entirely ends its rocket fire on Israel, Israel will consider an IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip." If that did not occur, he said, "The IDF will continue to operate in order to protect our citizens."

Most rocket launching areas are now controlled by IDF, he said.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Saturday that Israel is very close to meeting the objectives of its 22-day-old offensive in Gaza.

"After three weeks of Operation Cast Lead, we are very close to reaching the goals and securing them through diplomatic agreements," Barak said during a visit to the south of the country, according to a statement from his office.

The security cabinet was to meet Saturday night to discuss a unilateral cease-fire in Gaza.

The decision would mean Israel putting an end to Operation Cast Lead without an agreement with Hamas, relying instead on the support of the United States and Egypt in battling arms smuggling into Gaza.



Israel's Channel 10 on Saturday quoted IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi as saying he is in favor of bringing the IDF Gaza operation to a close.

A government source emphasized that there has been great progress with Egypt in reaching an agreement on fighting arms smuggling. The deal would require the combined use of technological measures on the border between Gaza and Egypt, operations against smugglers in the southern Gaza town of Rafah and the use of international experts to identify smuggling tunnels on the border.

The deal would also call for cooperation between Israel and Egypt on matters relating to the Gaza Strip in which they have shared interests, without the interference of Hamas.

Egypt is at the moment considering whether to organize a summit in the near future in Cairo between Olmert, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Egypt's state-run news agency MENA reported on Saturday that Mubarak has invited French President Nicholas Sarzoky and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for talks on how to end the Gaza offensive.

The Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported that Abbas and Sarkozy are set to hold talks with Egyptian President Hosni Muabark on Sunday.

The United States and Israel signed an agreement on Friday aimed at stopping the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.

The deal includes measures meant to fight arms smuggling from Iran to Gaza, with the policing to take place throughout the route by which the arms reach Gaza, including patrols of the Persian Gulf, Sudan and neighboring states.

The two-and-a-half page document outlines a framework under which the United States will provide military and intelligence assets, including detection and surveillance equipment, as well as logistical help and training to Israel, Egypt and other nations in the region. The equipment and training would be used for monitoring Gaza's land and sea borders.

The document also calls for the U.S. to expand work with its NATO partners in the effort, particularly in the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and eastern Africa, according to a text.

It also commits Washington to use relevant components of the U.S. military to assist Mideast governments in preventing weapons and explosives flows to Gaza that originate in or transit their territories.

Although signed by the Bush administration, the agreement is binding on the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama and Rice and State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said both Obama and Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton had been briefed on the details.

Related articles:
  • Hamas: We will not accept Israel's Gaza cease-fire demands
  • Text of U.S.-Israel anti Gaza arms-smuggling agreement
  • Israel hopes to achieve 'durable quiet' as Gaza op winds down
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    Include Gilad Shalit
    Noam Shalit: Any truce deal must include the release of Gilad from Gaza custody.
    A testy conference
    A Journalist calls Livni 'terrorist' during press conference on Gaza operation.
      1.   cese fire worse than lebanon, did Hamas win? 20:22  |  bernard ross 16/01/09
      2.   Hamas should be made aware that.... 20:30  |  Malone 16/01/09
      3.   What a big mistake that would be 20:34  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 16/01/09
      4.   The Israeli Government of Prostitutes Strike Again 20:35  |  Arik Cohen 16/01/09
      5.   Obama inauguration day January 20,2009 20:35  |  Peace 16/01/09
      6.   If you don`t want to occupy Gaza and Obama`s coming in 20:37  |  Paul Freedman 16/01/09
      7.   typical lame kadima if they vote yes. 20:37  |  dd 16/01/09
      8.   It Makes Hamas Completely Irrelevant 20:41  |  Bill Foonman 16/01/09
      9.   the Bloomberg Effect: The winner is Hamas! 20:43  |  Observer 16/01/09
      10.   gaza 20:46  |  ronald 16/01/09
      11.   What kind of agreement is this 20:46  |  Constantine 16/01/09
      12.   And the rockets will continue to hit Sderot 20:47  |  Sidney 16/01/09
      13.   unilateral cease fire 20:49  |  kenny 16/01/09
      14.   to Kenny # 4 20:58  |  JJ 16/01/09
      15.   Tragic development. 20:59  |  flyingdoc57 16/01/09
      16.   Bibi 21:04  |  Shmuel 16/01/09
      17.   no stated objectives achived 21:16  |  cept one 16/01/09
      18.   Defeat for Israel 21:17  |  Joseph 16/01/09
      19.   Question 21:17  |  BSchnider 16/01/09
      20.   pencil-sharpeners will win again 21:20  |  Peter 16/01/09
      21.   Another failure to deal with the issues 21:21  |  Boycott 16/01/09
      22.   This is not who should be making agreements. 21:24  |  Tzfonit 16/01/09
      23.   IDF will stay in Gaza 21:24  |  Ariel 16/01/09
      24.   Cabinet to Vote on Ceasefire 21:27  |  Robert Handelsman 16/01/09
      25.   And what will happen if the rocket fire from Hamas doesn`t stop? 21:27  |  AIG 16/01/09
      26.   Terrorists:2 Israel:0 21:30  |  Doron Straus 16/01/09
      27.   FLEAS AND ELEPHANTS 21:31  |  soggy liberal 16/01/09
      28.   Just So We Can Say "We Did" 21:36  |  UsedToPostHere 16/01/09
      29.   then it means Likud wins 21:37  |  Marko 16/01/09
      30.   Good move 21:48  |  seth 16/01/09
      31.   IDF Troops in Gaza exacerbates issues 21:50  |  Brian 16/01/09
      32.   noooo, don`t do it !!! 21:53  |  tom 16/01/09
      33.   Thanx to Olmert the incompetent, Hamas wins another victory. 21:53  |  February 10,2009 16/01/09
      34.   Boycott, what`s their policy? 21:55  |  Tzfonit 16/01/09
      35.   #18 Joseph...Dead Wrong 21:57  |  Jabotinsky 16/01/09
      36.   In plain english "ISRAEL LOST" 21:57  |  Lebanese 16/01/09
      37.   #2 Malone 22:21  |  Lou Medel 16/01/09
      38.   Not the Worst Decision 22:24  |  Ron 16/01/09
      39.   The winner is..... 22:27  |  Sam 16/01/09
      40.   #35 Jabotinsky 22:28  |  Lou Medel 16/01/09
      41.   With Egypt working with Israel, Hamas becomes irrelevant 22:42  |  Murray of Montreal 16/01/09
      42.   To # 36 .You´re completely wrong. 22:46  |  MOYSES 16/01/09
      43.   # 38 22:46  |  Joseph 16/01/09
      44.   Really, Who lost..The Palestinians lost. Some of Hamas 22:55  |  Israeli Observer 16/01/09
      45.   Israel`s success is clear 22:56  |  John 16/01/09
      46.   Cabinet to vote Saturday on unilateral Gaza truce 22:57  |  RangeRider 16/01/09
      47.   Observer 22:57  |  Motale 16/01/09
      48.   Dear Lebanese: the IDF kicked the crap out of hisb to the point 23:05  |  Steve the American 16/01/09
      49.   Not such a bad strategy! 23:07  |  Michael 16/01/09
      50.   Hamas "victory"? Don`t be sure it`s over yet.. 23:09  |  Brazuca 16/01/09
      51.   NO NO NO! 23:14  |  Alison 16/01/09
      52.   Shalit? 23:15  |  Avraham 16/01/09
      53.   Ceasefire Tactic 23:16  |  Richie 16/01/09
      54.   I know for a fact 23:18  |  stude 16/01/09
      55.   Answer to Ben Ami 23:20  |  Mickle 16/01/09
      56.   This is what happens 23:24  |  OM 16/01/09
      57.   Let us be fair 23:25  |  citizen of the world 16/01/09
      58.   STOP PLAYING BALL, START WINNING THE WAR 23:28  |  dp 16/01/09
      59.   Political Insanity 23:31  |  Moslim 16/01/09
      60.   No way! 23:35  |  Tzipi 16/01/09
      61.   To #36 Lebanese 23:42  |  Avi 16/01/09
      62.   Against unilateral 23:50  |  Moshe 16/01/09
      63.   Israel should accept nothing less than unconditional surrender. 23:51  |  Joe Camel 16/01/09
      64.   we don`t need no stinking ceasefire! 23:52  |  david 16/01/09
      65.   cabinet to vote saturday on unilateral gaza truce 23:56  |  debra 16/01/09
      66.   There it is war kiddies 23:59  |  Mark Lincoln 16/01/09
      67.   history 00:01  |  old man 17/01/09
      68.   Response to OM (# 45)...You are way below average. 00:04  |  flyingdoc57 17/01/09
      69.   cabinet to vote saturday on unilateral gaza truce 00:05  |  debra 17/01/09
      70.   MOU 00:10  |  Kfir 17/01/09
      71.   Elect BiBi 00:10  |  Eyhud 17/01/09
      72.   why this war Mr. Olmert? 01:00  |  Peter 17/01/09
      73.   #34 Tzfonit 01:04  |  Boycott 17/01/09
      74.   Best choice 01:05  |  Peter Williams 17/01/09
      75.   Let`s think about who really lost here... 01:19  |  lior 17/01/09
      76.   on unilateral Gaza truce 01:28  |  Hami 17/01/09
      77.   To lebanese, proving Israel won is easy 01:28  |  SteveS 17/01/09
      78.   Foolish To Pull Back Now 01:40  |  Douglas Fireman 17/01/09
      79.   #63 - SteveS is right about winning! 03:54  |  Maurice 17/01/09
      80.   There are no guarantees 04:04  |  Cant trust Hamas 17/01/09
      81.   Hamas is bankrupt on all accounts 04:06  |  YES Jabotinsky 17/01/09
      82.   O John 41 Thank God 04:10  |  An intelligent piece 17/01/09
      83.   Yes Peter WilliamsYes SteveS 04:21  |  the deterrence effec 17/01/09
      84.   Why there should be no unilateral truce 05:04  |  utagawa 17/01/09
      85.   Pssst: Israel 05:09  |  Harry 17/01/09
      86.   Johnboy # 1 Hair Splitting 05:36  |  Jeff Northridge 17/01/09
      87.   Israel is giving Hamas the Westbank and Gaza 05:44  |  Jonathan 17/01/09
      88.   Warning, Shocking, Rejoicing 07:20  |  Shimon Cleopas 17/01/09
      89.   Cabinet to vote Saturday on unilateral Gaza truce 07:43  |  yogigirl 17/01/09
      90.   43 Joseph 08:36  |  Ron 17/01/09
      91.   proportionality 10:32  |  christoph 17/01/09
      92.   To #56 That is not what happens 10:34  |  Epro 17/01/09
      93.   Israel cabinet will vote for ceasefire 10:35  |  DT 17/01/09
      94.   One More Thing From LA California 10:44  |  Yosemite 17/01/09
      95.   Gaza, Israel and the UN - an answer to Seth 11:35  |  swiss observer 17/01/09
      96.   Cycle of Stupidity 18:00  |  David Cohen 17/01/09
      97.   The IDF K9 Corp 18:05  |  Tom Mclean 17/01/09
      98.   Solidarity 18:24  |  sceptnick 17/01/09
      99.   Solidarity II 18:34  |  Linichka 17/01/09
      100.   to #68, Israel started the aggression 18:34  |  Emad 17/01/09
      101.   Why? A truce? Are you crazy? 19:04  |  GloomBoom.com 17/01/09
      102.   Solidarity III 19:17  |  sceptnick 17/01/09
      103.   Israel`s Cabinet to vote Saturday on unilateral Gaza truce 19:22  |  Mario 17/01/09
      104.   Egyptians set the record straight 19:24  |  Chrisona 17/01/09
      105.   Unilateral ceasefire is a good decision 19:25  |  Maurice 17/01/09
      106.   Emad # 100; You forgot to mention the most important thin 19:27  |  Murray of Montreal 17/01/09
      107.   #36 Lebanese...do you not read your own papers 19:35  |  Lynn 17/01/09
      108.   HAMAS HAS WON! 19:35  |  Ian Robertson 17/01/09
      109.   Re:#36 Lebanese...do you not read your own papers 19:53  |  another-lebanese 17/01/09
      110.   Wassup with the use of "unilateral`... 19:54  |  Persian Kitty 17/01/09
      111.   NO SHALIT NO PEACE! 19:56  |  Arie 17/01/09
      112.   Response - It Makes Hamas Completely Irrelevant 21:50  |  Aryeah245 17/01/09
      113.   Of Course Israel could annihilate Hamas in 5 minutes 21:51  |  myth buster 17/01/09
      114.   That should read "We are very close to Obama`s inauguration" 21:53  |  Clickfool 17/01/09
      115.   Im not shure is it a mistake.... 22:09  |  Eli 17/01/09
      116.   Response - to Kenny # 4 22:12  |  Aryeah245 17/01/09
      117.   Olmert: Operation to End IF Rocket fire and Weapons smugling end 22:14  |  Joseph.E 17/01/09
      118.   The Hamas fiasco 22:16  |  ScotGuy 17/01/09
      119.   `The goals` 22:17  |  Colin Wright 17/01/09
      120.   Finally 22:23  |  Rita 17/01/09
      121.   Response - Sam says The winner is..... 22:25  |  Aryeah245 17/01/09
      122.   Response #2 - Sam says The winner is..... 22:30  |  Aryeah245 17/01/09
      123.   Once again we are running away without finishing the job! 22:30  |  Safta 17/01/09
      124.   The Test of Israel` Deterrence 22:35  |  Joseph.E 17/01/09
      125.   you can never withdraw 22:50  |  flimflam 17/01/09
      126.   Response to - I know for a fact 22:51  |  Aryeah245 17/01/09
      127.   We will SEE YOU IN ELECTIONS Livni & Barak !!!!!!!!!! 23:14  |  amir 17/01/09
      128.   Maybe now the Gazans can start living! 23:19  |  Mike 17/01/09
      129.   to Lebanese 23:21  |  Motale 17/01/09
      130.   please not again 23:22  |  ronyc 17/01/09
      131.   armchair generals:olmert/barak/livni surrender 23:22  |  virginia orrall 17/01/09
      132.   Israel didn`t win the war ... 23:22  |  Salim 17/01/09
      133.   Am Israel Hai! Now get Gilad out. 23:23  |  leahR 17/01/09
      134.   Israel leaves Gaza without framework for arms smuggling? 23:28  |  Tulip 17/01/09
      135.   IDF Presence in Gaza Increase the Chances of Info on Shalit 23:28  |  Joseph.E 17/01/09
      136.   Kadima leaves egypt border wide open for hamas to get rockets 23:30  |  Seth 17/01/09
      137.   Nobody won 00:27  |  Steve 18/01/09
      138.   OK, But Hold Current Positions 00:49  |  Jeff Northridge 18/01/09
     Read & React
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    Hamas vows revenge after IDF kills Gaza Interior Minister Said Sayyam
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    Responses: 24


    More Headlines
    00:34 Israel to begin unilateral Gaza cease-fire at 2 A.M.
    00:42 ANALYSIS / Israel declares victory in Gaza, but at what cost?
    01:18 Sarkozy, Merkel, and Brown to attend Gaza summit in Egypt
    21:18 Noam Shalit: Any truce deal must include the release of Gilad from Gaza custody
    16:37 Egypt urges Israel to implement unconditional Gaza truce
    22:51 Nine IDF troops wounded, four seriously, in Gaza fighting
    00:47 Hamas: Israel cease-fire declaration not enough, we`ll continue resistance
    22:48 Over 20 rockets fired at Israel from Gaza, as unilateral cease-fire looms
    16:14 Journalist calls Livni 'terrorist' during press conference on Gaza operation
    17:40 ANALYSIS / Unlike Livni and Barak, Olmert is focusing on Gaza, not elections
    11:32 ANALYSIS / Who is really winning the war in the Gaza Strip?
    01:03 U.S. welcomes Israeli unilateral cease-fire in Gaza, urges lasting truce
    20:52 Hezbollah plot to attack Israeli embassy in Azerbaijan foiled
    20:31 Iranian cleric calls for Tzipi Livni to be shot
    14:44 Report: Assad ready to cooperate with U.S., won't give up good relations with Iran
    20:46 Israeli-trained Gaza doctor loses three daughters and niece to IDF tank shell
    19:28 Israel rejects suggestion committed 'war crimes' in Gaza
    21:25 Thousands march in Rome to protest Israel's Gaza offensive
    12:42 U.S. intelligence chief: Iran nuclear weapon could start regional war
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