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Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit. (AP) Last update - 02:46 19/04/2008 Egypt: 'Good progress' made in Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks By Reuters Tags: Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Israel  WASHINGTON - Egypt said on Friday it was making good progress trying to negotiate a tacit cease-fire, including a prisoner exchange, between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas that controls the Gaza Strip. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said his government was speaking with both sides to get a "period of quiet," which would help Israeli and Palestinian negotiators achieve a deal more easily in U.S.-mediated Palestinian statehood talks that exclude Hamas. "Hamas wants to call it a period of quiet. That suits the Israelis because they do not want to reach a signed, written agreement with Hamas," Gheit said of Egypt's mediation attempts in a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington. Advertisement "We are making good progress [mediating] but the difficulty we face is that often, certain trends inside Israel challenge the idea and certain trends inside Gaza challenge the idea and maybe, maybe there could also be a foreign element," he said with a smile, referring to the United States. Israel and the United States both classify Hamas as a terrorist organization and shun contacts with it, although Washington has quietly given a nod for Egypt to negotiate with the Islamist group to end violence that threatens the statehood talks. Outlining three elements of Egypt's mediation plan, Gheit said Hamas must cease firing missiles from Gaza into Israel. The Israelis, in turn, would vow not to target Palestinian activists inside Gaza and stop "targeted killings, assassinations or what have you." The second element was a prisoner swap of about 400 Palestinians held by Israel in exchange for Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, said Gheit. Shalit was abducted in June 2006 and taken to the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has balked at the scope of the prisoner release roster. Gheit said the plan was for Shalit to be delivered to the Egyptians, who in turn would hand him over to the Israelis. "Our information is that he is still alive," said Gheit of the Israeli soldier, without providing further details. The third element is to allow border crossings between Gaza and Israel to be open, with the help of European observers. "If the crossings are to be open, then we would ensure that the flow of goods, of people, of material and of everything is allowed and the Palestinians in Gaza will not feel deprived as they are right now," he said. The peace talks only involve the Wester-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Olmert. Gheit said if they reached a deal, which Washington wants by the end of the Bush administration's term in January 2009, then Hamas would be under pressure to accept it. "I think over time, Hamas will have to change because by not changing they are damaging prospects for Palestinian peace," said Gheit, who also questioned whether Israel was committed to reaching a final settlement with the Palestinians. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter set out plans for a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel during a meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Meshal in Syria on Friday. Gheit did not mention Carter's meeting with the Hamas leader. The Bush administration strongly opposed Carter's talks with Hamas and had advised him against it. Related articles: Qassam hits power lines in Sderot causing blackout Carter meets Hamas leader, Syrian President in Damascus Egypt brokering Hamas-Israel deal on long-term Gaza truce ANALYSIS: Unofficial Gaza cease-fire benefits everybody Bookmark to del.icio.us   A gentleman's word Olmert tells Haaretz he knows Iran won't have nuclear capacity. Farewell to arms B'Tselem says IDF must ban wide-range shell that killed civilians in Gaza.   1.   ok, let`s have this, by all means let`s have this & - 03:34  |  ivo 19/04/08   2.   Egypt good work, now close the deal 05:14  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/04/08   3.   400 for 1: GREAT IMPROVEMENT 06:04  |  Brant 19/04/08   4.   Open The Crossing With Israel 07:02  |  Eli 19/04/08   5.   Ivo of Prague - Agree 07:28  |  Mark of Lewiston 19/04/08   6.   Eli - It`s a Matter of Control 07:34  |  Mark of Lewiston 19/04/08   7.   #4, Eli 07:55  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/04/08   8.   Hamas is loosing the war. 07:58  |  Jean Van Daem 19/04/08   9.   Mark _ Israel Can No Longer Control The Egyptian-Gaza L 08:24  |  Eli 19/04/08   10.   wtf?! at first they were willing to exchange him for 350! 09:16  |  Joey 19/04/08   11.   Don`t listen Arabs keep your mind 10:16  |  Alex 19/04/08   12.   `Good progress` made in Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks? 11:29  |  Natallie Durson 19/04/08   13.   Progress ? 11:41  |  Serge 19/04/08   14.   #12, Durson says Egyptian FM talks nonsense 12:26  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/04/08   15.   Egypt cannot be trusted. 12:42  |  Jean Van Daem 19/04/08   16.   If Iran a country supports Terrorism can sit in Security Council 12:48  |  The Archives 19/04/08   17.   Kassams would continure and Hamas would say, "they`re firing them 14:23  |  redmike 19/04/08   18.   gheit is playing to the gallery,it is not Hamas that is the 14:30  |  lakshmi 19/04/08   19.   how many palestinians does it take to be equal to one israeli 18:14  |  terrornator 19/04/08   20.   Olmert is the latest action of Hamas what you call peace 18:34  |  Dish It Out 19/04/08   21.   Cipora Julianna Kohn # 7 _ I Am Aware Of That 19:49  |  Eli 19/04/08   22.   7/9 Eli/Cipora - Rafah Agreement Expired 21:30  |  Mark of Lewiston 19/04/08   23.   #21, Mark 22:03  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/04/08   24.   Mark of Lewiston _ I realize That The Agreement Is Null and Void 22:19  |  Eli 19/04/08   25.   Hamas should not accept this deal for 400 prisoners. 22:53  |  Bobby 19/04/08   26.   Bobby - I agree, Bad deal for Hamas 00:08  |  Shahid 20/04/08   27.   23 Cipora - I Think You`re Mistaken 01:31  |  Mark of Lewiston 20/04/08   28.   To CJK (#2): Negociating a deal with terrorists? Good heavens! 04:56  |  Morris Valentine 20/04/08   29.   23 Eli - Trusting Condi Rice 09:24  |  Mark of Lewiston 20/04/08   30.   #28, Morris Valentine, remarks about diplomacy 10:20  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/04/08   31.   To CJK (#30): Undiplomatic remarks 20:28  |  Morris Valentine 20/04/08

Read & React Editorial: Israel can't demolish all of Gaza Responses: 334 IDF troops do nothing as Hebron settlers threaten German MPs Responses: 305 Carter meets Hamas leader, sets out plans for Israel-Hamas truce Responses: 280 Barak: Hamas will pay for attack on Gaza crossing Responses: 428 Rosner's Domain The Passover test and The Passion of Passover Just say no to Carter Poll: What is Carter doing in the Middle East? Let the debate begin: what's a "pro-Israeli" position? Clinton: Massive retaliation if Israel attacked (WTR) More Headlines 19:50 At least 6 Gaza militants killed in IAF airstrikes 17:00 Barak: Hamas will pay for attack on Gaza border crossing 19:33 Jordan's Abdullah to Carter: Israel must lift blockade of Gaza 18:05 Hezbollah: U.S. claims we use terror against civilians are baseless 17:35 Rights group demands probe of Reuters cameraman death in Gaza 20:04 Syrian Jews celebrate Passover with ritual prayers in Damascus 18:42 Armenian, Greek priests fist fight at Jesus tomb in Jerusalem 12:04 Report: U.S. military groomed TV news analysts on Iraq war 17:48 For the first time since WWII, Shanghai Jews celebrate wedding inside synagogue 14:45 Iran: Rice has 'Iranophobia' for trying to blame Iraq situation on Tehran 15:42 The Passover test and The Passion of Passover 20:26 Meshal to announce decision over Carter truce proposals Sunday 13:07 Egypt police shoot two Africans trying to cross into Israel Previous Editions Select Day 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr

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