Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., April 28, 2008 Nisan 23, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:40 (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

Cease-fire talks / They can start packing at the Muqata By Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel , as proof that only attacks and Qassam rockets can wrest concessions from Israel. Advertisement Palestinian and Egyptian sources say the cease-fire will initially apply to the Gaza Strip only, but six months later, if quiet prevails, it will expand to the West Bank, something the PA has failed to do for seven and a half years. Under those circumstances, who needs Abbas - they might really be able to start packing at the Muqata. Hamas is also demanding that during the cease-fire in Gaza, Israel does not respond militarily there to attacks in the West Bank or within the Green Line. This is a stumbling block for Israel, which is concerned that the agreement will increase Hamas' motivation to carry out attacks in the West Bank. Another weakness in the agreement is that it apparently does not include the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. The head of Hamas' political wing in Damascus, Khaled Meshal, took pains yesterday in Qatar to explain that Hamas is not keen for the cease-fire to happen. But in reality, Hamas is very interested, so the economic blockade can be lifted and its position strengthened. If Hamas fails this week in Cairo to persuade the other groups in Gaza to join it, its dilemma will be whether to restrain Islamic Jihad, or risk the collapse of the understandings with Egypt and Israel. Without the other groups on board, Israel will discount the agreement. The murder Friday of two Israelis at the Nitzanei Shalom industrial zone near Tul Karm might be the first of a wave of terror by Islamic Jihad and other groups hoping to disrupt the calm in the Strip. Related articles: Meshal: Hamas ready for truce, but only as 'tactic' Muslim Brotherhood denies aiding Hamas in developing drones 7,000 Hamas supporters rally at Gaza north, south borders Bookmark to del.icio.us   Survivors and pioneers Yad Vashem exhibit shows how Holocaust survivors helped shape Israel's identity Researching bacon Lahav's pig breeding gained widespread notoriety because of its legal loophole.   1.   Already 05:07  |  Neil Golan 27/04/08   2.   It`s too bad Abbas doesn`t seem to get it straight... 06:51  |  Dutch 27/04/08   3.   Wrong analysis 07:14  |  Edifice 27/04/08   4.   Cease and Refresh Troops what a concept! 08:05  |  Zev 27/04/08   5.   Only Israel can Make PA Irrelevant 08:23  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/04/08   6.   Another `LEBANON 2` under Olmert. 09:11  |  Dagma 27/04/08   7.   #1 - how can they see an agreement that doesn`t exist ? 09:20  |  redmike 27/04/08   8.   #2 - Abbas is totally irrelevant with or without Hamas! 09:24  |  redmike 27/04/08   9.   But history shows this is the absolute truth 09:36  |  Clickfool 27/04/08   10.   What an Excuse 10:03  |  MiddleStanian 27/04/08   11.   #1-6 So what are you all suggesting? 10:39  |  Yonatan 27/04/08   12.   Five posts left this morning, four censored 11:04  |  Clickfool 27/04/08   13.   to Edifice #3 - wrong analysis indeed 11:48  |  zeev 27/04/08   14.   #9 boris the clucking fool and the march towards normality. 12:05  |  v hardman 27/04/08   15.   There is no ceasefire already because of israel`s daily 13:45  |  lakshmi 27/04/08   16.   Clicky 14:01  |  dovale 27/04/08   17.   A Cease-fire that only a FOOL would accept. 14:22  |  dingo dog 27/04/08   18.   Is there an inference that the PA doesn;t want a GAZA truce? or. 14:44  |  r 27/04/08   19.   Not clear why Israel would accept this cease-fire 14:56  |  Shalom 27/04/08   20.   to v hardman #14 15:18  |  zeev 27/04/08   21.   to dingo dog #17 15:42  |  zeev 27/04/08   22.   11 Yonatan - The Israeli Govt Prefers Hamas 16:47  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/04/08   23.   Ya` gotta laugh at this line..... 18:30  |  Johnboy 27/04/08   24.   Abbas never gave up terror. 09:01  |  Jean Van Daem 28/04/08   25.   The One State solution 10:42  |  Pal 28/04/08

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