Posted on 07/22/2014 3:34:46 PM PDT by Star Traveler
As of Tuesday night, despite the efforts of international intermediaries here in the region, there was no sign of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had failed to achieve the long-term humanitarian truce he planned. This despite signs Monday that Hamas might want to halt the fighting.
The Al-Mayadeen satellite station, which has good contacts in the office of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, claimed late Monday that Abbas and Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Mashaal had reached a ceasefire deal, based on Egypts proposal for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Abbass intelligence chief Majid Faraj set off to persuade the Egyptians to make minor changes to their proposal.
After midnight, however, it became clear that Egypt wasnt inclined to make the minor changes, and that Hamass military wing wanted more than minor changes. It still wants the release of prisoners, the opening of the Rafah border crossing, the opening of a seaport, and more.
On Tuesday night, the PA tried another approach: an immediate halt to the fighting, to be followed by five days of negotiations in Cairo on the issue of the border crossings, attended by Egypt, Hamas and the PA. Hamas is unlikely agree to that either.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofisrael.com ...
Israel, Egypt, the EU, Saudi Arabia are allied
against Hamas (terrorists supported by Obama and the UN).
Is there a problem with that?
And also the worst, but you don't care about that.
Nice to see Egypt backing Israel, and the EU telling Hamas to disarm.
Where is the US?
Leading from behind again...
I’ve been reporting that in the last few days with articles here ... and I think that’s great news ... :-) ...
Obama is looking for the Muslim Brotherhood ... LOL ...
The assumption is, there has to be a cease-fire.
Until the Hamas irregulars have received enough punishment so they actually feel the effects, there shall be no cease-fire. Then, they should all be forcibly removed and dropped off in some other part of the world.
Say, Antarctica. Up to now, they have not known true adversity.
“Where is the US?
Leading from behind again...”
as you would expect from a country whose leader is an ass
I hope there is no cease-fire. I’d rather see complete defeat then surrender.
And also the worst, but you don't care about that.
I'm waiting for the wurst.
US, UN pushing hard for immediate cease-fire in Gaza [Israel]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3183454/posts
http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/US-UN-pushing-hard-for-immediate-cease-fire-368386
If Hamas really wants a cease-fire, I am sure that we can get to that, but they dont want one, Netanyahu tells Sky News Arabic; Arab TV reports say humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza imminent.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in an interview with Sky News Arabic, pointed out that Israel accepted an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire last week. That proposal called for an immediate end to the violence, followed 48 hours later by negotiations regarding a more lasting agreement. Part of the proposal called for Palestinian Authority security officers, rather than Hamas men, to man the border crossing with Rafah.
In addition to that proposal, Israel Netanyahu said also accepted shorter humanitarian cease-fires brokered over the last few days first by the UN, and then by the Red Cross. In each case, he said, Hamas violated the cease-fire.
If Hamas really wants a cease-fire, I am sure that we can get to that, he said. But they dont want one.
One government official said that while Israel was ready for a cease fire, Hamas cannot come out of a ceasefire looking like a victor. Israel would be skeptical of any proposal that could be seen as a victory for Hamas.
Israel must clean out the garbage completely. Then if they want security occupy Gaza or it will start over again.
I hope Bibi sterilizes Gaza.
He’ll sterilize Hamas and it’s operatives as much as they are able to do, but according to his own word, he won’t do so to the Palestinian civilians.
Israel is very clear on the issue of protecting Palestinian civilians against collateral damage, as much as possible. Israel is also on a worldwide campaign with all their ambassadors to let the nations of the world know that and that they do not target Palestinian civilians, as they are falsely accused by the haters of Israel.
However, Israel will try to clear, as much as possible, the Hamas terrorist organization.
That’s what I meant.
Pity. Tell Dresden, Cologne, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, Berlin and Tokyo.
The Israelis will dither and dather, play at “diplomacy” knowing full well that the only purpose of a cease fire is to allow the muslims a chance to receive more foreign aid and rebuild their arsenals.
Gaza should be obliterated and the survivors that manage to crawl out of the rubble need to be force marched to Egypt.
West Bank next, Syria third.
Or not.
God will do it for them in the end anyway.
The problem for Hamas is that they simply weren't and still aren't very popular. They have been in a position of weakness due to a total lack of support due to their inability to govern. Gazans have been so disillusioned with Hamas that they were forced to accept a very junior role in a unity government with the PA they despise.
So sure, they will get an immediate bump in public opinion for fighting the common enemy, but once that passes they will have not only lost long term public support without some major Israeli concessions, they will also have been seriously degraded and weaker than ever.
Combine this with the fact that their neighbor Egypt is no longer friendly to them (infact the new Egyptian government hates Hamas) which prevents their easy resupply and from their point of view it is now or never, do or die. This attitude basically suits Israel fine for the moment, as well as Egypt, the PA (who would like to see them further neutered), and a few others.
Hamas, at this point, can only hope world opinion turns enough against Israel enough to force them to call off their offensive while Hamas can still fire rockets. If Hamas can and does still fire some rockets after Israel backs off, they can at least claim some kind of moral victory.
Both of those things are war crimes, which Israel does not do. In fact Israel works very hard at DISPUTING that they do this or even attempt to do this. Anyone who says that Israel should do those things is simply disseminating the Islamist propaganda against Israel.
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