Israel Matzav

Israel rejects Egyptian 'truce' draft

Even Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert, who is desperate for an achievement, knows that the draft of the 'cease fire' agreed to by Hamas and its twelve 'brother' terror organizations won't fly here. So Olmert rejected the draft presented by Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman today (pictured together with Olmert).

Olmert told Suleiman that any agreement must deal with stopping arms smuggling from Sinai into the Gaza Strip and the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit.

Suleiman promised the prime minister to convey the message to Hamas and to return with answers.

Earlier, in a meeting with the Egyptian official, Defense Minister Ehud Barak asserted that "Israel considers the release of Gilad Schalit a central component of stabilizing the situation in the Gaza Strip."

Barak maintained that the IDF would be forced to launch an intensive operation in the Strip if Kassam rocket fire on western Negev towns did not cease. "We cannot show restraint over continued terror activity in Gaza," he said.

Negotiations for the release of captured IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Schalit have been at a standstill for months, officials told Army Radio Monday, adding that the cease-fire agreement with Hamas that is being brokered by the Egyptians is "an opportunity" to further the cause of Schalit's homecoming.

But while a series of government ministers fell all over themselves saying that Israel should release terrorists in exchange for Shalit, the Likud's Yuval Steinitz had a different view.

Likud MK Yuval Steinitz, however, opined that "Schalit's release must not be fig leaf [to cover] the shameful and dangerous surrender agreement that is being signed with Hamas. Capitulating to Hamas violence and extortion in removing the siege of Gaza will lead to Hamas becoming stronger [and will result in] additional kidnappings in the future."

YNet adds:

Olmert reiterated that Israel's freedom of action in the West Bank would continue even if the situation in the Gaza Strip is resolved. Suleiman promised that he would deliver the Israeli messages to Hamas and the Palestinian factions and would return with answers.

Even Olmert can't give away the house that baldly. My guess is that Hamas will continue to 'negotiate' while its allies continue to fire in the hope of causing enough damage to make the timid Olmert agree to their terms.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:20 PM