Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., May 14, 2008 Iyyar 9, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:01 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Israel says truce with Hamas must include Shalit By Amos Harel, Barak Ravid, Avi Issacharoff and Jack Khoury Israel is favorably considering the Egyptian proposal for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. However, it is demanding that the indirect understandings with Hamas include real progress on a deal to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. A spokesman for Hamas, Sami Abu Zuhri, said yesterday that Hamas doubts Israel seriously intends to accept the Egyptian truce proposal. Advertisement "If Israel does not agree to the cease-fire, all means are open to us," Abu Zuhri warned. Hamas spokesmen explained yesterday that Israel's decision to condition its acceptance of a truce on Gilad Shalit's release is tantamount to rejecting the Egyptian proposal. A Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud al-Zahar, added that Hamas would take action against Israeli communities around Gaza as part of what he termed "self-defense" if the truce were rejected. However, Zahar qualified his remarks by saying that Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman will inform Hamas of Israel's position only today, and then Hamas will make a formal decision on its own position. Meanwhile, despite the death yesterday of an Israeli woman, Shuli Katz, in a rocket attack on Moshav Yesha, Israel will make do with a limited military retaliation to avoid a major escalation in the situation during U.S. President George Bush's visit to Israel this week. However, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Suleiman yesterday that if the rocket fire and terror attacks from Gaza do not stop, Israel will have no choice but to expand its military activity in the Strip. Islamic Jihad took responsibility for the fatal attack, as well as for rockets fired at Ashkelon yesterday morning. Suleiman, who is spearheading the truce talks, met with government officials in Israel yesterday to present the main points of the plan Egypt brokered with Hamas. In response, Israeli officials presented him with an outline of the agreement as conceived by Jerusalem: In the first phase, there would be a gradual lull in the fighting in the Strip, with both sides ceasing offensive activity, while in the West Bank, the Israel Defense Forces would continue its operations as usual. In the second phase, more goods would be allowed into the Strip. In the third phase, the Rafah border crossing would be opened to Palestinian traffic from the Gaza Strip into Egypt - although this point requires the agreement of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who still has reservations about it and is demanding a presence there for his forces. In return, Israel demands that Shalit be transferred to the Egyptians, as an interim stage prior to the release of 450 Palestinian prisoners. But despite its reservations, there seems to be a consensus in Israel regarding the need to agree to the truce outline Suleiman delivered yesterday. A senior official who took part in the talks said that "Israel has no legitimization for saying no, even if not all of the components are acceptable to us." The official added that "Israel must not come across in the international community as a naysayer regarding the truce in Gaza." Another senior Israeli official said that "the outline for a truce is close to ripening, and will be ready to be implemented within a few weeks." A defense source added that "this is not a process that will culminate in the sides signing an agreement. De facto understandings are being formulated, but we still need clarifications from the Egyptians." The defense establishment believes that Hamas is very interested in securing a truce, despite the rocket fire from Gaza in the past few days, but wants to do so from a position of strength, so as to be perceived as dictating the truce terms to Israel. Suleiman told his Israeli hosts yesterday that he is unhappy about incorporating Shalit in the deal. Rather, he argued, improving the atmosphere by means of a truce would help advance Shalit's release in the future. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Barak demanded that Suleiman resume pressing Hamas on this point. Olmert also emphasized that Israel wants a stop to arms smuggling to be a central part of any truce agreement. He asked Suleiman to convey Israel's messages to Hamas and the rest of the Palestinian factions, and Suleiman promised to return with an answer. Shalit's father, Noam, said yesterday that any truce must include his son's release. "The latest escalation began with the kidnapping, and the escalation must end with an end to the kidnapping," he said. He accepted the possibility of Gilad being transferred to Egypt until Israel and Hamas finish negotiating the release of prisoners in Israeli custody. "it is possible to reach understandings about a temporary cease-fire with a clear timetable - securing Gilad's release within 30 to 60 days in return for Palestinian prisoners," he said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A few good celebs Some of Hollywood's top guns congratulate Israel in a clip played in Times Square. Chosen, shmosen 'Religion is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions,' wrote Albert Einstein.

Read & React Ahmadinejad predicts Israel will be 'swept away' by Palestinians Responses: 133 Woman, 70, killed as Qassam strikes Negev home Responses: 314 Lebanese army says will use force from Tues. to stop fighting Responses: 86 Israel mulls moving Gaza crossings east to dodge rockets Responses: 223 Bush to Haaretz: PM is 'honest guy' and strategic thinker Responses: 90 More Headlines 02:40 Police quiz U.S. tycoon Sheldon Adelson as part of Olmert probe 00:13 Olmert: Understandings reached in talks with PA 02:41 Dennis Ross, Daniel Kurtzer slam Bush's Mideast policy 01:47 Video shows officer shooting protester with rubber bullet at close range 02:52 Tom Cruise, Ben Stiller wish Israel happy anniversary 22:27 Polish Pres.: Israeli youth should learn Poland not to blame for the Holocaust 19:43 Oscar winner Voight to Qassam victims: 'You're on the front line' 20:30 Fayyad: Israel shouldn't celebrate independence until peace deal signed 22:56 Israel mulls moving Gaza Strip crossings east to dodge rockets 03:00 Welfare Min. launches plan for savings accounts for every Israeli kid 17:40 Tony Blair: Israel agrees to ease West Bank restrictions 19:02 Einstein: Nothing 'chosen' about the Jews, Bible 'childish' legends 17:46 Saudi FM: Hezbollah 'coup' will affect Iran ties with Arab world Previous Editions Select Day 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Products Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off. The Terraces Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya Together Celebrating Israel's 60th The Jewish Agency and You - together making history Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer The interest rates haven't changed But your profits will! Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved