Posted on 01/07/2009 7:33:31 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal has for the first time indicated a willingness to work toward a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, according to Russian diplomats in the Syrian capital.
Russian diplomats in Damascus tell CBS News that Mashaal, seen at left in a 2008 file photo, indicated to a senior envoy from Moscow a "readiness to contribute in reaching a solution to stop the aggression in Gaza."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday that Israel had accepted an Egyptian-French cease-fire plan for the Gaza Strip, but Hamas officials in Syria told CBS News that they could not agree to the plan because it does not guarantee open border crossings or an end to a crippling blockade.
It was the first time Hamas' senior leader had implied a willingness to order a halt to the rocket attacks that Israel points to as the justification for their assault on Gaza.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose country holds unique sway with the Islamic militant group, met Tuesday with Alexander Sultanov, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's special envoy for Middle Eastern Affairs.
Diplomatic sources said it was Sultanov who met Mashaal.
The diplomats, who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, said, however, that Mashaal also warned he was not prepared to cooperate until Israel agreed to open the border-crossings into the besieged Gaza Strip and halt their own military operations.
Meanwhile, al-Assad (at left) said any truce between Israel and Hamas must stop what his country describes as "war crimes," and lift the blockade on the tiny Palestinian territory.
Sultanov also held a meeting with Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem and to review international and regional endeavors, including the role that could be played by Russia to stop the Israeli aggression and withdraw the military forces from the Strip, according to state-run Syrian Arab News Agency.
Al-Assad and Medvedev spoke on the phone earlier in the week and the Russian leader decided to send his aide for more talks with the Syrians.
The Syrian President, after talks with Sarkozy in Damascus on Tuesday, said a cease-fire was only attainable after Israel stops the "war crimes" and opens the crossing points to allow the flow of medical and other aid to the Palestinians.
Sarkozy was in Damascus Tuesday pressing Syria to convince Hamas to halt rocket fire into Israel.
Syria, along with Iran, is a main backer of Hamas and hosts members of the group's exiled leadership, including Mashaal.
Right. A "Final Solution."
How much you want to bet that they won't change. Duh!
They'll either use the opportunity to re-arm or will start all over again in the couple of months.
the only solution is to bomb these morons back to the stone age. then again they dont have that far to go to get to the stone age.
A solution to the inability to regroup and rearm while under fire.
In other words, we’re getting our butts kicked, time to ask our friends and colleagues on the Left to impose a peace treaty that condemns Israel for allowing themselves to be blown up and torn apart by Hamas bombs, missles and bullets and gives Hamas time to rebuild, re-arm and reposition so they can do it all over again weeks/months later.
In other words, The Israeli Military learned their lesson, they are doing a good job in Gaza. Although I do not support Ehud Barak as a politician, he seems to be a very effective General in this situation.
The only downside is that success will be credited to the Kadima Party, and thus diminish Bibi’s chances to become Prime Minister.
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