Having gotten the war they wanted, now Hamas may be realizing they really didn't want it after all. According to the Jerusalem Post, Hamas has offered a five point proposal to bring about a ceasefire. The Israeli government has rejected it because it does not immediately release their kidnapped soldier.
For the first time since the beginning of the current round of violence, the Hamas government on Saturday announced its readiness to accept a cease-fire with Israel and hold negotiations to resolve the case of kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit.
The announcement was made in the form of a five-point "initiative" that was published by the office of Palestinian Authority Prime Minster Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza City.
Meanwhile, PA President Mahmoud Abbas returned to Ramallah on Saturday after spending the past two weeks in the Gaza Strip trying to resolve the crisis. Abbas's aides expressed cautious optimism regarding the possibility of reaching an agreement with Hamas over the release of Shalit.
According to one aide, Egypt and other Arab parties were continuing their efforts to end the crisis despite reports about the failure of the negotiations. "We've received some encouraging signals from Hamas over the past 48 hours," he said, refusing to elaborate.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Saturday rejected the cease-fire offer proposed by Haniyeh.
Olmert won't agree to a truce until terrorists from Hamas free Gilad Shalit, who they captured nearly two weeks ago, officials in the prime minister's office said.
In response to Israel's rejection of the initiative, Ghazi Hamad, spokesman for the Hamas government, said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was making a "mistake." Israel, he added, has tried the military solution, but to no avail.
There is a bit too much coordination in all the pressure going on around the world for my taste. It looks like Hamas is starting to realize maybe they are in a bit too deep trying to play with the big boys.
There is a bit too much coordination in all the pressure going on around the world for my taste. It looks like Hamas is starting to realize maybe they are in a bit too deep trying to play with the big boys.
