Hamas Set to Declare 3 Month Truce

[Edan]

Is this a cease fire in which Hamas doesn't perform any attacks, or is this a cease fire in which Hamas does not perform attacks against civilians within Israel, but is free to attack settlers, or attack military targets in and out of Israel, while Israel is not allowed to attack Hamas?

a suicide bomber and his "operator" were captured today in Israel, they were carrying 10kg of explosives

Ahh, neither one, I see.

[lord of the mark]

Yeah Hamas doesnt intend for it to last

1. Its only 3 months, not openended
2. Nothing Ive heard about Hamas disarming (as required under the Road Map)

But the idea is that meanwhile Israel withdraws from Gaza back to Sept 2000 control, and some withdrawl from West Bank (probably Bethlehem) where Abbas and Dahlan are strongest. And make improvements to Pals lives that further strengthen Abbas. Then when Hamas comes out shooting again, Abbas is strong enough to take them on.

We'll see.

[Sprayber]

So in three months Hamas can start killing people again? They must be running low on bombs or something because the last time the spoke their gole was the destruction of Israel. Can you really negotiate with someone whose goal is your ulitimate destruction? Perhaps the only good news is that maybe the PA will have time to build up for the ulitmate task of getting rid of Hamas. That is if they truely intend to do this.


Maybe we can negotiate with al quida now.

[Lord Merciless]

Hamas only agree to this because they are hardly pressed. Israel shouldn't give them any slack.

[C0ckney]

Originally posted by *End Is Forever*
I think it's sad that people think that a (temporary!) pledge to stop murdering innocent civilians is something praiseworthy...

well said

[Japher]

Have the Hamas broke the truce yet?... just wondering, it has been a while (at least for them)...

[Az]

oh who cares... Hamas spokesman to Ynet, israel's leading news resource: "We'll take the time to regroup".

Until someone in the PA would actually move their asses against Hamas, I don't see an end to this.

[Sandman]

Israel should start negotiating with the terrorists, and not with the pointless middleman that is the PA.

[chequita guevara]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Hamas Set to Declare 3 Month Truce

Originally posted by The diplomat
You make me sick! Hamas is going to use this cease-fire to re-organize, and kill scores of innocent people, and you are celebrating?!?! You are disgusting!

Ah, so instead we should just watch even more bombings and retaliations and shootings and rockets and more death and destruction.

To hell with you. A three month truce is three months of relative peace. I'll take a three month break from war over constant war anyday.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Lord Merciless
Hamas only agree to this because they are hardly pressed. Israel shouldn't give them any slack.

Obviously Hamas will use the time to regroup. So it becomes a race between Hamas regrouping and the Abbas-Sharon peace process.

Its in that context that the Israeli hits on Hamas should be seen - not as guevera says, an attempt to undermine the ceasefire, but rather as an attempt to prepare for it.

Remember October 1973? Sharon commanded Israeli forces on the west (far) side of the Suez canal. The UNSC was pressing towards a ceasefire. ISTR that Sharon used the time to rush towards surrounding an egpytian army - the US and the USSR came close to a big confrontation as the US tried to give Israel more time. Army ended up surrounded, giving Israel a post war bargaining chip, that helped in negotiations that led to egyptian "non-beligerency".

I think thats what hes doing now - go after as many Hamasniks as possible before the inevitable ceasefire goes into effect, so that Hamas will be set back going into the three month race.

Now that would, of course, benefit Abbas as well. But of course hes not going to say so in public.

[lord of the mark]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hamas Set to Declare 3 Month Truce

Originally posted by chegitz guevara


Ah, so instead we should just watch even more bombings and retaliations and shootings and rockets and more death and destruction.

To hell with you. A three month truce is three months of relative peace. I'll take a three month break from war over constant war anyday.

depends whether the three month break leads to a situation no worse than the current - if Hamas can use the break to become stronger, this may not be a good idea. Abbas and Bush, however clearly think they can make enough progress in three months to offset Hamas's gain. Sharon may agree, or he may simply realize he cant defy Dubya Iraqicanus, and so is making the best of it.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Sandman
Israel should start negotiating with the terrorists, and not with the pointless middleman that is the PA.

actually sandman, ive seen some people on the right question what Abbas brings to the table in this - I think its easier for Hamas to make concessions to him, than directly to Israel - he's a fig leaf for a Hamas surrender, from that point of view. and of course hes in a better position to press Europeans and Arabs to back off from supporting Hamas.

[Edan]

Originally posted by Sandman
Israel should start negotiating with the terrorists, and not with the pointless middleman that is the PA.

Israel's already tried negotiating with Arafat.

[chequita guevara]

I have no sympathy for the Hamas butchers, but Israel has a nasty habit of trying to kill them with rockets while they are surrended by crowds or in buildings full of sleeping children. Israel's methods were clearly provocative, even if their initial targets were legitiamte.

[TCO]

Che, Hamas is a bunch of evil murders. They are totally untrustworthy. This is so silly. You are so silly.