Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., March 23, 2008 Adar2 17, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:34 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza City earlier this month. (AP) Last update - 19:20 22/03/2008 2 Qassams hit Israel as Egypt hosts Hamas, Jihad for truce talks By Haaretz Service and News Agencies Tags: Israel Defense Forces  Egypt held talks Saturday with representatives of Hamas and Islamic Jihad from the Gaza Strip in a bid to secure a cease-fire with Israel, officials said as two Qassam rockets hit the western Negev. There were no injuries or damage in the rocket attacks, Israel Radio reported. The talks were held in government offices on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, and attended by Khaled al-Batsh of Islamic Jihad and Hamas official Jamal Abu Hashem, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said. Advertisement Ismail Haniyeh, who heads Hamas's government in the Gaza Strip, said they will listen to an Israeli proposal relayed by Cairo during the talks, but said "the final decision will be formed in accordance to achieving the highest interest of the Palestinian people." Barhoum said the Egyptians had informed the Palestinians of consultations "with several parties," and that the Palestinians would now hold consultations at home. An Egyptian source close to the talks said the Palestinian delegation called for the release of 36 members of Hamas detained in Egypt after Palestinian militants breached the border in January. Haniyeh said the presence of Palestinian prisoners in Egypt was wrong "especially if those in detention are men of resistance. This situation is not normal and should be corrected ... through the immediate release of all prisoners." Barhoum said the Egyptians had promised to release the Gazan detainees in the near future. "Hamas hopes that we will see deeds and not only promises as we are highly concerned about the continued detention and torture of detainees," Barhoum said. Despite a recent decrease in the fighting, tensions remain high on the Gaza border. Three Qassam rockets were launched on Friday from the Gaza Strip and landed in open fields in Israel. No injuries or damage was reported Bookmark to del.icio.us   Declassifying AIPAC Two former pro-Israel lobbyists charged with revealing secret info. to Israeli diplomats. Jersualem pilgrimage Christian pilgrims flock to Holy City to mark Good Friday and retrace the route of Jesus.   1.   No Palestinian rockets/mortars....no Gaza blockade....as simple ! 00:37  |  Elie 22/03/08   2.   terror attack on purim 03:37  |  vik 22/03/08   3.   # 1 Elie 05:43  |  Bobby 22/03/08   4.   What a JOKE Gaza ceasefire? 08:15  |  The Archives 22/03/08   5.   Let`s remind ourselves 10:33  |  Clickfool 22/03/08   6.   #3 Bobby - You are a funny guy 11:00  |  BRAZILIAN 22/03/08   7.   # 1 Has it backward 13:01  |  JJ 22/03/08   8.   Good for you Haniyeh,consolidate in Gaza,next take over the West 13:35  |  lakshmi 22/03/08   9.   # 6 you are using your kidney not brains. 14:47  |  Bobby 22/03/08   10.   occupation 15:34  |  david 22/03/08   11.   to bobby #3 19:21  |  russian 22/03/08   12.   rockets ajoke 20:17  |  carny 22/03/08   13.   Negotiation for Peace Liberation 21:38  |  Zev 22/03/08   14.   # 11 Russian--Israel left gaza-rocket started 22:15  |  Bobby 22/03/08   15.   How does the loser of a war dictate the terms? 22:18  |  Mark 22/03/08   16.   canada 22:47  |  Matt 22/03/08   17.   Bobby 23:10  |  Matt 22/03/08   18.   Truce Talks, Indeed 23:32  |  Douglas Fireman 22/03/08   19.   Bobby you are right @ 14 00:14  |  ChanahS 23/03/08   20.   To Israelis : You must trust Hamas 00:58  |  Gazan Engineer 23/03/08   21.   # 19 Chanahs-It`s simple 01:09  |  Bobby 23/03/08   22.   # 17 Matt-- In my company one Jewish worker 01:36  |  Bobby 23/03/08   23.   Bobby 21 02:01  |  ChanahS 23/03/08   24.   # 23 Chanahs 03:24  |  Bobby 23/03/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Macho U.S. Jews, pantywaist Israel Responses: 227 Jewish group seeks to purge YouTube of anti-Semitic videos Responses: 205 PM says worried Russian weapons will reach Hezbollah Responses: 110 Israel, Germany plan int'l summit to stop Iran nuke program Responses: 118 13-year-old boy wounded in terror attack near Hebron Responses: 108 Editorial: J'lem yeshiva massacre must not lead to boycott of Israeli Arabs Responses: 103 Rosner's Domain U.S. govt. to appeal ruling on classified material in AIPAC trial I've known my rabbi for more than 20 years... (WTR) Poll: Mideast summit in Moscow, a good idea? There's no need for American pressure on Israel Jewish connections in the NCAA (WTR) More Headlines 00:21 Hezbollah deputy chief says he has proof Israel killed Mughniyah 02:07 Saddam collected information on dozens of potential targets in Israel 01:08 Palestinian sources: No breakthrough in Hamas-Fatah reconciliation bid 04:05 ANALYSIS: Unofficial Gaza cease-fire benefits everybody 00:14 Cheney in J'lem: U.S. will never pressure Israel to take security risks 04:47 ANALYSIS: Netanyahu seeks to contain damage to image 03:06 Defense Min. says unimpressed by anti-missile system 06:56 Umm al-Fahm resident shot to death outside her home 01:57 U.S. gov't to appeal ruling on classified material in AIPAC trial 04:37 Defense Minister likely to approve 80 housing units in settlement 01:18 Bank of Israel report: One in four Israelis over the age of 65 is poor 01:55 EU parliament president says Olympics boycott should be considered Previous Editions Select Day 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar

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