Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., April 22, 2008 Nisan 17, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:40 (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 considers unilateral cease-fire By Avi Issacharoff The Hamas leadership in Gaza and Damascus met in Damascus yesterday to discuss former U.S. president Jimmy Carter's proposal for a unilateral cease-fire for a week or two. The London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat reported that Carter had presented Hamas with a comprehensive document, including a request for a humanitarian gesture with regard to kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit; a proposal to sign an agreement on operation of the Rafah crossing; and a proposed meeting between senior Hamas officials and Industry, Trade and Employment Minister Eli Yishai. Advertisement Taking part in the consultations were senior Hamas officials from Gaza, Mahmoud a-Zahar and Said Siam, who came to Damascus following talks in Cairo with Egypt's intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman. The talks focused on bringing calm to Gaza first and subsequently extending the cease-fire to the West Bank, if Israel agreed. The Hamas newspaper Falastin, published in Gaza, reported that Carter proposed Hamas unilaterally stop rocket fire on Israel and release Shalit in exchange for no more targeted assassinations of its leaders and the release of 400 prisoners. In a document that Falastin called "very flexible," Hamas said it was prepared to establish a Palestinian state in the 1967 borders on condition that any diplomatic agreement reached by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would be presented in a referendum to the Palestinian Legislative Council. A member of the Hamas political bureau, Mohammed Nazzal, told Al Jazeera that Carter, who met with Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Meshal on Friday and on Saturday, had proposed that Hamas make a gesture to Israel and implement unilateral calm. Nazzal said the organization had no objection in principle, but would have to weigh "what the price is and what Israel's response will be." Nazzal also said Hamas "did not intend to hold Gilad Shalit forever." Earlier, Carter met with Syrian President Bashar Assad and discussed Shalit. After his meeting with Meshal, Carter continued to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and from there to Amman, Jordan. A Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Sami Abu-Zuhri, yesterday said Hamas would "accept no referendum with regard to the basic rights of the Palestinian people." At the end of the week, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit revealed a four-point plan to bring quiet to the region. The plan includes a halt to Hamas fire on Israel, and Israel's stopping strikes on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel in exchange for the release of Shalit. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Undressed to impress Yeshiva student strips in a supermarket to protest sale of chametz during Passover. Ante up Hamas offers truce in return for a Palestinian state along Israel's pre-1967 borders.

Read & React Meshal offers 10-year truce for Palestinian state on '67 borders Responses: 340 Gideon Levy: Hamas and Israel - how different are they? Responses: 106 Jewish ex-aide to Bill Clinton accuses U.S. of pro-Israel bias Responses: 108 Hamas vows 'harsh' attacks on Israel, says previous attacks were 'practice' Responses: 136 More Headlines 01:31 IDF strikes kill three gunmen in northern Gaza 23:13 Meshal offers 10-year truce for Palestinian state on '67 borders 01:31 Israel to pay $12 million to family of British filmmaker killed by IDF 01:15 IDF commander axed for not confronting militants in fuel depot attack 21:52 Rights group: Israel allows fewer Gaza cancer patients to enter 21:20 Yeshiva student undresses in store to protest chametz sale 19:34 El Al announces 6.5% ticket price hike due to higher oil costs 23:42 Carter: U.S. would not stand in way of Israel-Syria peace deal 19:28 PA hopes to raise $1.5 billion at next month`s W. Bank conference 14:17 Dear Diplomat, whose side are you really on? Previous Editions Select Day 21 apr 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr

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