Report: Palestinian official says Israel gave up demand to demilitarize Gaza

[Jefferson23]

After Egypt gets Palestinians, Israelis to extend ceasefire by additional day in final bid to cerement a Gaza ceasefire, an Abbas affiliate tells Army Radio that Israel has shifted its position from demilitarizing Gaza to making sure Hamas cannot rearm.

Ynetnews
Published: 08.19.14, 11:14 / Israel News

Ashraf al-Ajrami, the former Palestinian Minister of Prisoners Affairs and a close affiliate of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told Israel's Army Radio Tuesday that Israel has backtracked from its initial demand that Gaza be demilitarized as part of a long term Gaza ceasefire currently being negotiated in Egypt.


"There is a growing understanding among the Israelis that there is little chance of having this demand met," al-Ajrami told Army Radio's Good Morning Israel program. "The Israeli delegation will probably make do with preventing Hamas from rearming," he claimed.

His comments came as Palestinian and Israeli negotiators in Cairo were trying to hammer out a roadmap for the Gaza Strip after Israel announced late Monday night that it had agreed to extend the temporary truce in Gaza for 24 hours while – at Egypt's request – it continued to negotiate a permanent agreement.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4560170,00.html

[Jefferson23]

1. Abbas to meet Qatar emir, Hamas's Meshaal in Doha Thursday

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will travel to Doha on Wednesday and hold talks the next day with the emir of Qatar and Hamas exiled leader Khaled Meshaal, the Palestinian ambassador in Qatar said.



Abbas's visit to Qatar was initially announced for Monday by Palestinian officials who are in Cairo for indirect talks with Israel on a lasting truce in Gaza.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4560276,00.html

[Jefferson23]

2. IDF confirms three Gaza rockets hit open areas in south despite ceasefire

Netanyahu orders IDF to respond with fire after three rockets were launched from Gaza hours before long term ceasefire deal excepted to be signed.

Yoav Zitun
Published: 08.19.14, 15:53 / Israel News

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4560337,00.html

[Jefferson23]

3. LIVE UPDATES: Israeli army strikes Gaza in response to rocket fire

Rockets fired from Gaza hours before truce expires; Hamas accuses Israel of 'foot-dragging'; Palestinian delegation head denies reports of progress in Cairo talks; sides agree to extend Gaza cease-fire by 24 hours; Palestinian sources earlier said cease-fire deal was initialed.

By Haaretz | Aug. 19, 2014 | 4:34 PM

Live updates [Tuesday]:

4:38 P.M. Government officials say the negotiations with the Palestinian delegation over the truce in Cairo have collapsed, and that, following the rocket fire from Gaza, the prime minister and the defense minister instructed the Israeli delegation in Cairo to return to Israel. (Barak Ravid)

4:29 P.M. Israeli army strikes in Gaza in response to rocket fire, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit says.

"Yet again, terrorists breach the ceasefire and renew fire at Israeli civilians from Hamas ruled Gaza Strip. This continued aggression will be addressed accordingly by the IDF; we will continue striking terror infrastructure, pursuing terrorists, and eliminating terror capabilities in the Gaza Strip, in order to restore security for the State of Israel." Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, IDF Spokesperson said. (Gili Cohen)

4:27 P.M. Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said after the rockets were fired that "when you want beat a terror organization, you defeat it. When you hold negotiations with a terror organization, you get more terror."

"Hamas thinks that firing rockets helps in securing achievement in negotiations, therefore it is firing at Israel even during a cease-fire. Rockets are not a mistake [for Hamas], they are a method," he added.

According to Bennett, "only a harsh response, the way a sovereign country responds to rockets fired into its territory, can stop the escalation. Sooner or later Israel will have to defeat Hamas, there's no way to avoid it." (Barak Ravid)

4:15 P.M. Hamas spokesman in Gaza Sami Abu Zuhri says that "Israel's foot-dragging proves it has no will to reach a truce deal," adding that "the Palestinian factions are ready for any scenario" (Jacky Khoury)

4:08 P.M. Shai Hajaj, head of the Merhavim Regional Council, said in response to the rocket fire that "time after time, the terror groups, led by Hamas, do not honor agreements. We will not accept [rocket] fire at our towns and the government must look after the security and safety of its citizens." Hajaj added that as the school year approaches, there isn't enough protection at the educational institutes. (Shirli Seidler)

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.611250

[azurnoir]

4. Netanyahu pulls envoys out of Cairo after rocket fire resumes

The prime minister and defense minister have instructed the Israeli delegation at the Cairo talks to return to Israel because of the ceasefire violation by Hamas, Israel Radio says citing diplomatic sources.

Read more: Netanyahu pulls envoys out of Cairo after rocket fire resumes | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/day-43-israel-confirms-truce-extended-by-24-hours-at-egypts-request/#ixzz3AqUjuobk

[Jefferson23]

5. No sirens, and the militants fired into open area...need I say more. Thanks for the additional

info, azurnoir.

[azurnoir]

7. a bit more from yesterday-sets a tone

A member of the Palestinian delegation to Cairo confirmed Monday night that the Palestinians told Egypt they were prepared to sign the Egyptian agreement on a permanent ceasefire.

The sources said a comprehensive lifting of the blockade was included in the agreement, as well as the extension of the permitted fishing zone (up to 12 miles) and the release of Palestinian detainees from the West Bank.

"The two sides also agreed to postpone – for a month – discussions on a seaport and airport."

Throughout Monday night, conflicting reports emerged from Cairo regarding the forthcoming agreement and its contents.

While Palestinian sources expressed optimism that the fighting would not resume at midnight, Israeli officials continued to emphasize that the IDF was prepared to resume its operations.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4560062,00.html

[Jefferson23]

10. Yea, it's interesting..all considered.‘Israel, US secretly agreed on gradual easing of Gaza blockade

Kerry expected in region next week; Israel reportedly gives up on demand that Hamas, other terror groups in Gaza disarm

By Times of Israel staff August 19, 2014, 6:21 am

Israel and the US have already coordinated and agreed on the details of a future agreement for a long-term ceasefire with Hamas, and a gradual lifting of the blockade on the Gaza Strip, Ynet reported early Tuesday.

Read more: ‘Israel, US secretly agreed on gradual easing of Gaza blockade' | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-us-secretly-agreed-on-gradual-easing-of-gaza-blockade/#ixzz3AqdMw8bt
Follow us: @timesofisrael on Twitter | timesofisrael on Facebook

[Jefferson23]

6. Hamas: Israel stalling Cairo ceasefire negotiations

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israel is deliberately stalling ceasefire negotiations in Cairo, Hamas said Tuesday.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas' spokesman, said that Israel should stop wasting time and playing the "death game."

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said that reaching an agreement is a "difficult and complicated" process, but that there is a chance for an agreement.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=721626

[Jefferson23]

8. IDF hits Gaza targets in response to renewed rocket fire on the south

The IDF attacked multiple targets in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after and in response to renewed rocket fire on Be'er Sheva and Netivot which occurred during a ceasefire that was due to expire at midnight.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4560370,00.html

[Jefferson23]

9. Chief Palestinian negotiator: PA didn’t walk away from table

Saeb Erekat says that the US never offered any peace proposal in writing, despite demands

By Times of Israel staff August 19, 2014, 4:46 pm

The head of the Palestinian negotiating team that spent nine months in US-brokered talks with Israel has rejected criticism by former US special envoy Martin Indyk that the Palestinians backed away from the table, and instead accused the US of never putting any proposals down in writing.

In an interview with Al-Monitor, published on Tuesday, Saeb Erekat said that the US mediators to the talks, which fell apart at the end of April, were noncommittal.

“Actually, I haven’t received any written proposal from [US Secretary of State John] Kerry,” he said. “The Americans presented 18 oral things and kept changing them. I asked Martin once, ‘If you give me something orally and in several weeks’ time we are sitting in France, London, Saudi Arabia or Jordan and then we disagree on something, or you say “I didn’t say that to you,” what would this mean? Please give us your proposal in writing so we can submit it to the leadership and the Arabs. Imagine such a situation where you want to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict and you decline to present something in writing.’”

Read more: Chief Palestinian negotiator: PA didn't walk away from table | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/chief-palestinian-negotiator-pa-didnt-walk-away-from-table/#ixzz3AqccFSxU
Follow us: @timesofisrael on Twitter | timesofisrael on Facebook

[Jefferson23]

11. Israel strikes Gaza targets after rocket fire

Benjamin Netanyahu tells army to hit "terrorism targets" after three missiles fired into Israel, in violation of truce.

Last updated: 19 Aug 2014

Israel has launched air strikes on "terrorism targets" in Gaza and recalled negotiators from Cairo after three rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel, as efforts to agree a permanent ceasefire appeared to unravel.


The Israeli military said that rockets landed in open areas near the town of Beersheeva. Sources told Al Jazeera that they were fired from nearby Shujayea.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, ordered his army to attack targets in Gaza, and recalled from Cairo negotiators who were involved in indirect talks with Palestinians on a permanent ceasefire.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/08/israel-orders-army-gaza-after-rocket-fire-2014819131442120578.html