Israel in talks with Hamas

[Carlos_E]

Is Israel breaking its own taboo on talks with Hamas?

Participants at a recent inner cabinet meeting were listening to details of the Egyptian mediation initiative between Israel and Hamas on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip recently, when a senior minister reportedly reminded those present that Israel does not negotiate, directly or indirectly, with Hamas. Shin Bet security service head Yuval Diskin interrupted, saying there was no other way to describe the talks.

A letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, the details of which were revealed Friday, called for the indirect and secret talks with Hamas to be recognized. As for Israel's greatest concerns - that Hamas will use a lull in hostilities to rearm and that Egypt's promises to fight weapons smuggling bear no weight - the writers of the letter offered no solution.

Among the signatories' names, that of MK Yossi Beilin (Meretz) is to be expected. More surprising are the names of the former Shin Bet chief Ephraim Halevi, who has actually been calling for talks with Hamas in recent months, along with former chief of staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak and Brigadier General (res.) Shmuel Zakai, a former Gaza Division commander. This is an attempt to provide a military stamp of approval to a step Israel has officially sworn it would not take. What was taboo two years ago is no longer.

It is Hamas that has not changed its position over the past two years, that has not accepted the Quartet's conditions, and has remained adamant not to recognize Israel and previous agreements, and not to renounce terror. The economic blockade has certainly strengthened Hamas' desire for a cease-fire. But make no mistake, a senior military figure said: "Hamas is not coming to negotiations because it is in decline. Its regime will not fall if the blockade continues."

Negotiations are expected to rev up this week following talks between Egypt and Hamas, and a meeting Tuesday between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Barak in Sharm al-Sheikh. But without an agreement that includes significant progress toward the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, Israel is close to deciding on a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip. The rising number of casualties in the western Negev cannot be ignored. Additional losses could spur the government to an operation, despite doubts voiced by generals and ministers as to its effectiveness.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/984388.html

[eliteforce]

basically Hamas told Jimmy Carter that they would observe a ceace fire and [palestinian Pres.]Abbas could negotiate a final agreement-based on Israel withdrawing from the west bank to the 1967 borders, and that once the deal is signed it could goto referendum to the palestinians, once it is approved by a vote, they would respect the outcome and continue a the ceasefire permanently..and contnue within the framework of the Palestinian constitution for next round of elections.

[RA]

Good luck. Hamas doesnt want peace...they want the destruction of Israel and all the Jews gone...

[DeputyLoneWolf]

Good luck. Hamas doesnt want peace...they want the destruction of Israel and all the Jews gone...

They're cease fire will only last as long as it will benefit Hamas. These people do not understand peace and do not want to. They are truly in the stone age, the only difference is they have AK-47's...


The US needs to stand behind Israel. As said above Hamas (and other extremist groups) would not rest until the total destruction of Israel is achieved. But this will not happen and Israel will continue to smash all foes that rise against them until the end of time.

[BgMc31]

They're cease fire will only last as long as it will benefit Hamas. These people do not understand peace and do not want to. They are truly in the stone age, the only difference is they have AK-47's...


The US needs to stand behind Israel. As said above Hamas (and other extremist groups) would not rest until the total destruction of Israel is achieved. But this will not happen and Israel will continue to smash all foes that rise against them until the end of time.

...'cause the Bible tells me so...<sarcasm>

[Prada]

Talks, talks, talks. Its almost a useless ritual, until they truly want to resolve anything(which they don't) thats all they'll do perpetually.

[DeputyLoneWolf]

...'cause the Bible tells me so...<sarcasm>

LOL be as sarcastic as you want. Your sarcasm is not going to change the future. And yes it is very well told of. Just read Revelation before you make any more comments. Israel will always win even if the whole world goes against them. Don't believe me though just wait and see...

[thegodfather]

There is absolutely no reason the United States should be supporting Israel or Palestine. Why are we meddling in a sovereign nations affairs? We should do as the founding fathers instructed us to do- "Trade with all nations, Treaties with NONE!"

We do much more harm than good by meddling in their affairs, and frankly it is none of our business. I know that the majority of the American people never voted for us to support Israel. Rather, one of the largest interest groups in Washington DC is an interest group which lobby's for the military/financial support of Israel. There is no provision in the Constitution of the United States of America which permits our country to police the world and interfear in sovereign nations affairs.

But if we want to speak on the issue, Israel is a huge human rights violator, and the Palestinian people have a legitimate reason to be pissed and a legitimate grievance with Israel. Why is everyone so quick to absolve Israel of any wrong doing? Hamas and other groups are simply fighting for the LIBERATION of their people. The winner often labels the losers as "terrorists." When the founding fathers were fighting for independence the King of Britain called them "traitors", "terrorists", and they would have been tried for high treason if they did not end up winning the war. However, in our history books we called them liberators and freedom fighters. Highly hypocritical.

[eliteforce]

If you were stuck in a bantustan/ghetto the size of a small town, you would want 'Israel' abolished also, people in that region should have freedom of movement and equal rights just like in the USA or Europe..it's the west that expects other people to live in a situation that they would never accept themselves .. by supporting Isael economically .. and Israel is a system of government or a regime, not 'the jewish people'

unfair water distribution, land confiscations, crop destructions, jewish only roads, separation walls, laws against intermarriage..the list of Israels racist and oppresive policies goes on and on..it is truly the most racist and oppresive regime..

but anyways for now the best way forward is a longterm ceasefire or an aggreement based on Israels withdrawel to the 1967 borders..this gives the Palestinians some freedom and some land back so they can have agriculture and it gives Israel security..

If it turns out hamas was lying and they fire rockets anyways, then Israel could always re-occupy the territory, also the Palestinian population will not support armed attacks on Israel if Israel ends the occupation of the West Bank...so if Hamas is saying this than they should be given a chance to perform, they should not be expected to stop armed resistence while Israel continues to build walls and settlements.

They're cease fire will only last as long as it will benefit Hamas. These people do not understand peace and do not want to. They are truly in the stone age, the only difference is they have AK-47's...
The US needs to stand behind Israel. As said above Hamas (and other extremist groups) would not rest until the total destruction of Israel is achieved. But this will not happen and Israel will continue to smash all foes that rise against them until the end of time.

[Carlos_E]

But if we want to speak on the issue, Israel is a huge human rights violator, and the Palestinian people have a legitimate reason to be pissed and a legitimate grievance with Israel. Why is everyone so quick to absolve Israel of any wrong doing? Hamas and other groups are simply fighting for the LIBERATION of their people. The winner often labels the losers as "terrorists." When the founding fathers were fighting for independence the King of Britain called them "traitors", "terrorists", and they would have been tried for high treason if they did not end up winning the war. However, in our history books we called them liberators and freedom fighters. Highly hypocritical.

[BgMc31]

LOL be as sarcastic as you want. Your sarcasm is not going to change the future. And yes it is very well told of. Just read Revelation before you make any more comments. Israel will always win even if the whole world goes against them. Don't believe me though just wait and see...

Believe what you want but I choose to not put my faith in a book written by man. Fact remains that Jesus nor God ever put pen to pad. And yes I've read Revelations and to me it seems like he was high on something when he wrote it.

[DeputyLoneWolf]

Believe what you want but I choose to not put my faith in a book written by man. Fact remains that Jesus nor God ever put pen to pad. And yes I've read Revelations and to me it seems like he was high on something when he wrote it.

Think what you will. But this will all happen (not sure when) but I guarantee it will. Just look for the signs.

[eliteforce]

the Crusaders also had some set of 'relevations' and look what happened to their thing, and of cource radical muslims have their own set of whatever religious edicts that claim to predict the future.
Religious texts are always vague to the point where you can contort them to mean anything, in this case we have people who actually believe that God "hates" the indiginous Palestinians and wants them either expelled or oppresed in bantustans..because that piece land belongs "to the Jews" which God loves..but God doesn't really love them because they reject Jesus as king, God also hates all those Chinese people that died in that earthquake because they beleive in Buddah, you can contort religion to make it negative and evil or you can interpret it to make it a moral guide for benevolent behavior, you can use religion to start wars or beat up gays, or to give out food aid to starving people, or to force a 14 year old girl to not have an abortion after she was raped by her father..

it's religion

[thegodfather]

the Crusaders also had some set of 'relevations' and look what happened to their thing, and of cource radical muslims have their own set of whatever religious edicts that claim to predict the future.
Religious texts are always vague to the point where you can contort them to mean anything, in this case we have people who actually believe that God "hates" the indiginous Palestinians and wants them either expelled or oppresed in bantustans..because that piece land belongs "to the Jews" which God loves..but God doesn't really love them because they reject Jesus as king, God also hates all those Chinese people that died in that earthquake because they beleive in Buddah, you can contort religion to make it negative and evil or you can interpret it to make it a moral guide for benevolent behavior, you can use religion to start wars or beat up gays, or to give out food aid to starving people, or to force a 14 year old girl to not have an abortion after she was raped by her father..

it's religion

hmm..... +1