Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., June 20, 2008 Sivan 17, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:43 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 02:02 19/06/2008 Fatigued, Gazans don't believe By Fares Akram At the office of Royal Star Tourism in Gaza City, only one person is still working, or rather is chatting on the Internet or attending to people who come in to use the photocopier the company possesses. During the past year, the firm fired four employees, as business dwindled due to the closure of the crossing points into the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Ahmed Hammad, 29, the company's executive director, says it became completely dependent on the Rafah crossing point, which was closed when Hamas took over Gaza last June. "The embassies no longer issue visas for Gazans because they expire while the bearers remain stuck in Gaza," Hammad said. He is pessimistic about the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire that was scheduled to take effect at six this morning. He says he understood the commercial crossings, like Karni, will be open in the early stages of the tahadiyeh (lull) while the Rafah passageway will be left for future talks. "I don't think the tahadiyeh will hold long - until they reach a deal on Rafah," he said. The terms of the cease-fire say it is to last for six months, starting in Hamas-controlled Gaza before moving forward to West Bank. Israel says the Rafah travelers' crossing will not open unless Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who was kidnapped in 2006 by Hamas, is released. "They have been negotiating on Shalit for two years...I don't think they will succeed in the coming six months," said Hammad. The Hamas-Israel lull is also threatened by other Palestinian factions that have repeatedly said they have the right "to respond to the Zionist violations of the tahadiyeh," according to Abu Ahmed, the spokesman of Islamic Jihad's Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. "Any aggression, in the Gaza Strip or West Bank, requires a response by the resistance," Abu Ahmed told Haaretz. "But the mechanism of response, its place and time, will be decided according to the nature of the aggression." Hamas' Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh says the militant groups have the right to respond to Israeli army operations "if the occupation commits a stupid act." Haniya's made his remarks today shortly after he sang the praises of the cease-fire. "The tahadiyeh can provide security and achieve the interests and ease the suffering of the Palestinian people...it can also provide relief to the Israelis if they abide by it." The Gazans, fatigued by a year of blockade and sanctions, have varying opinions.Osama Marzouq, 33, an engineer, says he hopes "a true and mutual" lull starts to overcome the consequences of the Israeli siege. "Unemployment is high and the closure affected everything in daily life." The blockade, he said, "was the strongest reason to support the lull. But Salwa Abu Rayya, 33, says Hamas was wrong to rush for the cease-fire. "We are going to loose what we have endured for one year; they will allow some goods into Gaza but will close the crossings again. She also believes Israel will beef up its army for an invasion of Gaza when the lull collapses. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Fragile cease-fire Olmert: Gaza cease-fire is fragile, may be short lived. Unbalanced stance Italy FM: EU stance on Israel in past swayed by intolerance.

Read & React Olmert: Gaza truce is Hamas' last chance to avoid major IDF op Responses: 240 ANALYSIS / For Gaza truce architect, Israel chose lesser of 2 evils Responses: 110 Editorial: A lengthy cease-fire is an achievement for Israel Responses: 49 Jerusalem denies services to Palestinian residents over the fence Responses: 100 Rosner's Domain / The Joe Lieberman dilemma Responses: 74 More Headlines 23:13 Report: U.S., Canada warn Hezbollah set to strike Jewish targets 00:00 Military sources: IDF to pull troops if Gaza truce holds 02:13 Gazans get much-needed calm, as Hamas works to preserve cease-fire 23:18 Barak: Only U.S. can advance Israel-Syria talks 01:14 Visitors can't get enough of Hitler tours in Munich 22:01 Head of Lebanese terrorist's village: We're preparing for Kuntar's homecoming Sunday 15:48 The Joe Lieberman dilemma 02:31 To buy or not to buy, that is the ethical dilemma 01:37 Likud warns Shas not to back alternative Kadima-led gov't 12:24 Environmentalists win decade-long war against Eilat fish farms 17:20 Taxi and truck drivers protest fuel prices, clog main T.A. artery 17:56 Land mine explosion kills two Bedouin children in Sinai 19:06 Report: Human rights activists in Arab world face countless threats 16:11 Social workers to shut down welfare offices over labor dispute Previous Editions Select Day 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun

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