Israel, Palestinians OK Gaza Cease-Fire

[GHook93]

My Way News - Israel, Palestinians OK Gaza Cease-Fire

Israel and the Palestinians agreed to a cease-fire Saturday to end a five-month Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip and the firing of rockets by Palestinian militants into the Jewish state - a major step toward reviving long-stalled peace talks. The cease-fire was to go into effect at 6 a.m. Sunday (11 p.m. Saturday EST), both sides said.

The sides announced the cease-fire after Abbas telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert late Saturday to tell him he had arrived at an agreement with all Palestinian factions - including those allied with Hamas - to stop all rocket attacks and suicide bombings from Gaza. Abbas asked that Israel, in turn, stop its military operations in Gaza and withdraw its forces, and Olmert agreed, spokespeople for both leaders said.

This is great NEWS!

Hamas and Fatah have been in talks in recent weeks on the formation of a more moderate government of professionals to replace the one led by Hamas. Another major element of the talks is the release of the captured Israeli soldier in exchange for Palestinians that Israel holds. Hamas' supreme leader, Khaled Mashaal, was in Cairo to discuss both issues with Egyptian mediators, but there was no word of a breakthrough.

Working for a moderate government! This amazing.

Mashaal said his group was willing to give peace negotiations with Israel six months to reach an agreement for a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank. If the talks failed, however, he threatened a new armed uprising. The double-edged comments were his strongest confirmation that the Islamic militant group would allow Abbas to try to negotiate with Israel. But it was also the first time he has set a deadline with an explicit threat of a new uprising. We give six months to open real political horizons ... We agreed on the national accord to establish a Palestinian state, with the June 4, 1967 borders," he told a news conference in Cairo, referring to Israel's borders before it captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

6 month is more than efficient time to get an agreement. The burden is shifting to Israel. This is exactly what the Palestinians should have been doing. Tell the Israelis it is time for "Put Up or Shut Up Time. The ball is in Israel's court. Israel said, "Denounce terror and you have a State." If the Palestinians are true to there word, the Israelis must also."

This is what I have been praying for, for so long. Hopefully we will see a two state-solution with peaceful neighbors. Both sides will prosper enormously. If peace is declared they will be instant tourist hotspot, both have so much to offer.


I might be getting a little ahead of myself, but this could be that dawn of a new era in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

The most encouraging part was a Hamas led government was calling for a 2 state solution.

Hopefully this is not too good to be true.

[jose]

Very good news i wish all people see the benefit of stopping this constant killing of each others children

[GHook93]

Quote by: jose Very good news i wish all people see the benefit of stopping this constant killing of each others children

Unfortunately, I jumped the gun. This is meaningless. It is nothing more than propaganda by the Palestinian Islamic Terrorist. Even after Israel withdrew, Hamas attacked in violation of the agreement.

My Way News - Despite Truce, Palestinian Attacks Go On

Despite Truce, Palestinian Attacks Go On Nov 26, 11:57 AM (ET) By AMY TEIBEL and IBRAHIM BARZAK JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli troops withdrew from the Gaza Strip as an unexpected truce took hold Sunday, but two major Palestinian militant groups, saying they had no intention of stopping their attacks, fired volleys of homemade rockets into Israel. The rocket attacks by Hamas and Islamic Jihad tempered hopes for a lasting cease-fire, which was meant to end five months of deadly clashes. The rockets landed in open fields and caused no injuries.

Again Israel is the only side taking steps. They agree to withdraw, but the attacks keep coming and more attacks are promised. I know you, PH, Athena and Boobie will twist this as Israel's fault in some way. But the facts are Israel and Palestine agreed to a truce. Israel has start to abide by it, but the Palestinian have no intentions of committing to it.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered his security chiefs to send their forces to the Gaza border area to prevent further rocket attacks, according to Palestinian security officials.

This doesn't give me a ray of hope, since they have been useless in the past to prevent even the slightest insurgencies.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered the army to show restraint in the face of the rockets. "Even though there are still violations of the cease-fire by the Palestinian side, I have instructed our defense officials not to respond, to show restraint, and to give this cease-fire a chance to take full effect," he said. Hamas' own militants claimed responsibility for firing rockets into Israel after the truce took hold, clouding prospects for the truce's longevity. The Hamas militants said they continued their attacks because some Israeli troops remained inside Gaza, an accusation Israel denied.

Not responding to the violation of the cease-fire. Yet another move by Israel towards peace, yet PH, yourself, Athena and Boobie will twist this also. This was Hamas attacking!

[shrike]

It was expected. The Palestinian terrorist broke the cease fire right away.

GAZA (Reuters) - A ceasefire between Israel and militants in Gaza took hold on Sunday and despite Palestinian rocket attacks in the first hours, Israel promised restraint. The immediate aim is to end rocket fire from Gaza and halt a crushing Israeli army offensive launched after gunmen seized a soldier in a cross-border raid last June. Olmert said he hoped the soldier would now be freed. "All of these things ultimately could lead to one thing -- the opening of serious, real, open and direct negotiations between us," Olmert said. "So that we can move forward toward a comprehensive agreement between us and the Palestinians." Militants launched at least 9 rockets just hours after the start of the ceasefire at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT). But the army said it had not recorded any rocket fire since 10.15 a.m. (0815 GMT). "We will show the necessary restraint and patience, certainly in the coming days," Olmert said in southern Israel. The Israeli army pulled forces out of Gaza overnight and Palestinian witnesses confirmed the soldiers had gone http://today.reuters.com/news/articl...e-C1-topNews-2

Now all can see who is an aggressor and instigator of the violence.

[Atlas]

Funny, the usual critics choose to ignore this development, only a proof they see only what their pre-fixed eyes want them to see...

[GHook93]

Quote by: Atlas Funny, the usual critics choose to ignore this development, only a proof they see only what their pre-fixed eyes want them to see...

This seems apparently so.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Atlas Funny, the usual critics choose to ignore this development, only a proof they see only what their pre-fixed eyes want them to see...

Whatever that means.

Grandpa h.

[shrike]

Rockets fired in new truce violationFrom correspondents in Jerusalem November 28, 2006 01:41am PALESTINIAN militants fired two rockets towards Israel in a fresh violation of a fragile truce in exchange for Israeli troops leaving Gaza after months of operations.

Rockets fired in new truce violation | The Courier-Mail

[GHook93]

Quote by: grandpa Whatever that means. Grandpa h.

What it means is yourself, PH, Boobie, Athena, Zeedee etc. aren't responding when Israel is making crucial steps and the Palestinians are violating it right off the bat.

[GHook93]

''I hold out my hand in peace to our Palestinian neighbors in the hope that it won't be returned empty,'' Olmert said. Directly addressing the Palestinians in some of his most conciliatory remarks since winning election in March, Olmert described Israel as willing to make far-reaching concessions if the Palestinians choose peace. ''We, the state of Israel, will agree to the evacuation of many territories and the settlements that we built there. This is extremely difficult for us, like the splitting of the Red Sea. We will do it for real peace,'' he said. He said that if the Palestinians establish a new government committed to carrying out the U.S.-backed ''road map'' peace plan and securing the release of a captured Israeli soldier, then he would call for an immediate meeting with Abbas ''to have a real, open, honest, serious dialogue between us.'' Olmert said that Israel planned to release ''many Palestinian prisoners,'' including those serving long sentences, as a trust-building measure after Palestinian militants freed the captured soldier alive and healthy. Israel would also ease the checkpoints across the West Bank, improve border terminals in Gaza, release the frozen money to the Palestinians and help develop a plan to rehabilitate their crippled economy, he said.

The Palestinians (and Hamas no less) responded by rocket attacks. Yet the Israel critics will call Israel war-mongers that won't accept peace.

[The Decider]

No ceasefire will work that isn't part of a comprehensive settlement. Israel wants to cut a deal for Gaza, but have free reign to operate militarily in the Occupied Territories.

Back to the drawing board.

[GHook93]

Quote by: The Decider No ceasefire will work that isn't part of a comprehensive settlement. Israel wants to cut a deal for Gaza, but have free reign to operate militarily in the Occupied Territories. Back to the drawing board.

This is for only violence to stop from Gaza, not giving the Palestinians only Gaza as their country.

I don't see why it is too much to ask to stop attacking while we negotiate a free independent Palestine!

[Atlas]

Quote by: grandpa Whatever that means. Grandpa h.

I do not include you in the ones I speak of, if anything, your criticism has the most sense since its context is mostly of humanitarian concern, and not uncontrollable finger pointing that comes from unexplained rage and anger.

I hope you'll reassure me and post your opinion on this matter...

[The Decider]

Quote by: GHook93 This is for only violence to stop from Gaza, not giving the Palestinians only Gaza as their country. I don't see why it is too much to ask to stop attacking while we negotiate a free independent Palestine!

Israel won't get a piecemeal agreement. Either Israel ceases operations throughout all Palestinian territories, or none will have peace. Gaza is only part of the problem. Israel still occupies the West Bank and engages in violent repression there (mass arrests, detentions, etc).

[ByaKya]

A good sign. Israel as the stronger party must not let extremists foil the ceasefire, israel is the STATE here. Palestinians have no state, they cannot control everyone, its ridiculous for israel to demand the pa or hamas, control everyone, and at the same time work to weaken them continually.

This is similar to sharons "100 days of calm" before negotiation. O rly ?

How about the palestinians simply end all attacks, end all resistance to occupation and just forget about the whole thing, then we can negotiate....what exactly ?

You negotiate with your enemies, and DURING conflict. imagine the us demanding north korea or north vietnam end all attacks and all resistance, before negotiations begin !

We would have lost every single soilder by now, israel cannot keep up the occupation, nor can it fight beyond its borders as the lebanon war demonstrated.

[The Decider]

Quote by: ByaKya You negotiate with your enemies, and DURING conflict. imagine the us demanding north korea or north vietnam end all attacks and all resistance, before negotiations begin !

Well said. What ongoing war ever ended BEFORE all hostilities ended? Even during the ceasefires that ended WWI and WWII, fighting still raged in areas.

The Israelis often use light mortar fire and the occassional kidnapping of a soldier by Palestinians to send in the tanks and fighter jets. The Palestinian extremists count on that reaction to foil all attempts by moderates like Abbas to get deals signed.

[GHook93]

Quote by: ByaKya A good sign. Israel as the stronger party must not let extremists foil the ceasefire, israel is the STATE here. Palestinians have no state, they cannot control everyone, its ridiculous for israel to demand the pa or hamas, control everyone, and at the same time work to weaken them continually. This is similar to sharons "100 days of calm" before negotiation. O rly ? How about the palestinians simply end all attacks, end all resistance to occupation and just forget about the whole thing, then we can negotiate....what exactly ? You negotiate with your enemies, and DURING conflict. imagine the us demanding north korea or north vietnam end all attacks and all resistance, before negotiations begin ! We would have lost every single soilder by now, israel cannot keep up the occupation, nor can it fight beyond its borders as the lebanon war demonstrated.

So what they are currently doing is working? What is their goal? A free, independent state or uncompromisable revenge? They can't have both. Why when they see a ray of hope they still choose terrorism?

Terrorism and war is not the only way to make change (and is usually not the best way). Gandhi and MLK Jr. got things done without violence and terrorism.

And treaties happen when the war is over.

[ByaKya]

I'm glad you mentioned gandhi, are you aware that gandhis son himself went to palestine a few years ago and tried to organize a peace movement?
For his efforts, him and his group of palestinians and international citizens were shot at with rubber coated steal bullets. Gandhi is lucky these things didn't exist back then. Gandhis son failed, I don't expect any native born under the occupation palestinians to be able to succeed either.

You need to re-read some history from unbiased stories, your messages give the impression that you bought into the whole "palestinians were offered 95 % of the west bank" fantasy. If I'm right, link me to an electronic copy of the treaty which was written out and offered to the palestinians to sign. Any copy or estimation in fact of this so called "offer" will do

You won't find it, it never existed, 5 % will matter a whole lot when that 5 % consists of all the roads in a state.
Here ill offer you 99 % of the united states, the 1 % is every road and highway, you can't use them ever, do you accept or reject ?

[GHook93]

QUOTE=ByaKya;307270 I'm glad you mentioned gandhi, are you aware that gandhis son himself went to palestine a few years ago and tried to organize a peace movement? For his efforts, him and his group of palestinians and international citizens were shot at with rubber coated steal bullets. Gandhi is lucky these things didn't exist back then. Gandhis son failed, I don't expect any native born under the occupation palestinians to be able to succeed either.

You have proof of this? And no one said a peaceful demostration was easy.

You need to re-read some history from unbiased stories, your messages give the impression that you bought into the whole "palestinians were offered 95 % of the west bank" fantasy. If I'm right, link me to an electronic copy of the treaty which was written out and offered to the palestinians to sign. Any copy or estimation in fact of this so called "offer" will do

Referring to the Camp David Accords? I believe it was 98%. Damn good deal. just ask the Native Americans.

Here ill offer you 99 % of the united states, the 1 % is every road and highway, you can't use them ever, do you accept or reject ?

Not apples to apples

[Atlas]

Quote by: ByaKya You negotiate with your enemies, and DURING conflict. imagine the us demanding north korea or north vietnam end all attacks and all resistance, before negotiations begin !

Negotiations to a cease fire are done during combat, negotiations for peace are done after an existing cease fire, that's the ABC of sane diplomacy.