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Israel seeking ceasefire arrangement that excludes Hamas |
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Monday, 5 January 2009Bethlehem – Ma’an/Agencies – Israel is seeking a diplomatic agreement to end the war in Gaza, as long as the deal excludes one of the parties to the conflict: Hamas.
According to a decision made on Sunday by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Israel will press for this arrangement with European leaders who are in the region on Monday in an effort to bring about a ceasefire.
Olmert will meet on Monday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Livni will meet three foreign ministers from Europe, including French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
On Saturday night the US blocked an attempt at the United Nations Security Council to pass a binding ceasefire resolution proposed by Libya. At the Israeli cabinet meeting on Sunday, Livni said that Israel’s own diplomatic efforts had “foiled that attempt,” according to a statement sent be the foreign ministry.
In addition to the foreign ministers of Sweden, France and the Czech Republic, which currently holds the rotating presidency, two senior officials charged with EU foreign policy, Javier Solana and Benita Ferrero-Waldner will also attend the meeting.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will also meet Sarkozy before the Palestinian leader goes to the United Nations seeking a ceasefire.
Israel’s government has apparently decided not to negotiate a new ceasefire with Hamas through a third party mediator. Egypt brokered a six-month truce that expired last month.
"Hamas has already proved that it is not a partner [for peace] when it violated the cease-fire," a senior political source on Sunday told the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz.
Israel will instead seek three separate agreements with Arab states, with the Palestinian Authority and with the international community.
Haaretz reported that Israel wants an agreement with Egypt and the US to stop smuggling into the Gaza Strip. US Army engineers are already in Egypt helping to locate smugglers tunnels.
According to the same report, Israel would like to bolster a 2005 agreement on the border crossings with the PA, Egypt, and the EU, that will restore use of the Rafah crossing and deployment of PA and EU officials that will oversee its operation.
On a ceasefire, Israel would like to involve the US, France and moderate Arab countries, in a Security Council agreement that will grant Israel the right to respond with force to perceived Palestinian violations, Haaretz reported.
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Monday, 5 January 2009
Ma'an News
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