Israel rejects Hamas offer of a ceasefire

[subsuelo]

Israel today dismissed a Hamas proposal for a six-month ceasefire during which time the embargo on the Gaza Strip would be lifted, accusing the Palestinian Islamist group of trying to buy time to "rearm and regroup".

The Hamas offer, issued yesterday after talks with Egyptian mediators, departed from previous demands by the group that any ceasefire apply simultaneously in Gaza and the occupied West Bank - the territories where Palestinians want statehood.

Israel has been reluctant to enter any formal agreement that could shore up the hardline Islamists against their West Bank-based rival, President Mahmoud Abbas, as he pursues peace talks with Israel. Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, signalled flexibility last month by saying that military attacks on Gaza would cease if its Hamas rulers stopped cross-border rocket salvoes.

“Israel is interested in peace. Unfortunately, Hamas is playing games. Hamas is biding time in order to rearm and regroup,” David Baker, an Olmert spokesman, said today.

“We still do not have a clear Israeli position. The ball is in the Occupation’s court,” said Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas official, using the group’s term for the Jewish state.“We are ready for all political and military choices to end the siege.”

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[ProgressiveMuslim]

1. Correction: Israel is interested in settling the WB and destroying Gaza. Let's be clear. nt

[pegleg]

2. If they had been interested in destoying Gaza,

they wouldn't have returned it. there is this little thing about constant rocket attacks and suicide bombers that makes the israelis a little leery of trusting. the heart of the matter lies with Waqf. You know that and I know that. Concerning Israel- it ain't gonna happen. Both sides need to cease ALL hostilities, establish 2 sovereign peaceful nations and get on with life. Both sides are guilty of teaching racism and hatred against one another to their young which will only perpetuate the situation. It is possible to find a peaceful solution guaranteeing the integrity of both sides, but in order to achieve that, the bullheaded hatemongering attitudes ON BOTH SIDES must cease. There will be no destruction of the Jewish nation and there will be no denying a free Palestine.

[subsuelo]

3. "Both sides need to cease ALL hostilities"

Right, and it is, as usual, Israel rejecting any and all attempts at moving forward towards a ceasing of all hostilities.

[pegleg]

6. If you will recall, just a few days ago, Hamas refused to cease rocket attacks

and to return a kidnapped Israeli soldier as Carter had requested.

[subsuelo]

7. And this excuses Israel rejecting any and all ceasefire attempts how?

[pegleg]

8. It shows either lack of sincerity on Hamas' part or their inability to

control their own forces, which would indicate their inability to maintain a ceasefire. This is a time when the major powers need to intervene or nothing will change.

[Vegasaurus]

10. Why make concessions to a group sworn to your destruction? nt

[azurnoir]

12. Guess that applies to Fatah too?

So what your really saying is why should Israel make concessions to any Palestinian?

Here is copy of the PNC charter

http://www.iris.org.il/plochart.htm

Another source about Fatahs charter

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Blogs/Message.aspx/2051

[ProgressiveMuslim]

4. Make no mistake. Gaza IS being destroyed. It's not a matter of "hatemongering," it's a matter

of Israeli actions, which incidentally, long preceded any rockets.

[LeftishBrit]

5. I couldn't agree more. 'The bullheaded hatemongering attitudes ON BOTH SIDES must cease'

Anyone interested in putting a bit of pressure on BOTH sides, might like to go to this site - it's one I like anyway, and they're organizing a petition right now.

www.allmep.org

[bemildred]

9. I guess stopping the rockets isn't really that important. nt

[subsuelo]

11. for a second I thought you were replying to post #10 nt

[bemildred]

13. Not likely.

I just don't see what Hamas is supposed to do. They shoot the rockets, that's not OK. They offer to not shoot the rockets, that's not OK. Why should they give a f**k about trying to work things out? Is it just going to be total war until one side or the other is exterminated? That's not going to be OK either.

[Vegasaurus]

14. Their offers of not shooting rockets

has never worked out in the past.

Hamas can't (or won't) control all the militants. Even if their own "armed wing" isn't shooting rockets, the other groups continue.

[bemildred]

15. Their offers of not shooting rockets have never been accepted.

How could they "work out" if they are never accepted? Israel would rather have the rockets than publicly acknowledge Hamas. People are wounded and dying to protect politicians egos. :puke:

[subsuelo]

16. How can their offers "work out" when Israel always rejects them?

Hello?

[notfullofit]

17. Why does Hamas

"offer" to quit firing rockets?

Why don't they just quit firing them off period and see what happens?

What WOULD happen do you think?

[bemildred]

18. Why should they if Israel will not do anything in return?

Does Israel offer the Palestinians something for nothing? Is this all supposed to be some sort of charity bazaar? Will Israel stop killing Palestinians if they return the favor? If that is so, why not say so? Eh?

[azurnoir]

19. The going "logic" is because

Israel can kill them faster than they can kill Israeli's.

A concept that has worked well so far:sarcasm:

[Dick Dastardly]

20. Like when Israel left Gaza, they immediatly started firing many more rockets

In the past when Hamas claimed it was going to ceasefire, the other jihadi groups continue with their attacks so it really is not a ceasefire

[bemildred]

21. Get used to it, it's not going to get better anytime soon the way things are going. nt