Palestinian groups agree deal for return of Israeli

[muriel_volestrangler]

Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have agreed to stop firing rockets at Israel and to free a captured Israeli soldier in a deal brokered by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president.

The deal, agreed on Sunday, is to halt the rocket attacks in return for a cessation of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, and to release Corporal Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier captured on June 25, in exchange for the freeing of Palestinian prisoners at some point in the future.
...
"The problem is that both Islamic Jihad and Hamas have to seek the advice of their political bureaux in Damascus and we are waiting for their response," he said.
...
The ceasefire has yet to take hold completely but there has been a marked reduction in the number of rockets fired at Israel. A spokeswoman for the Israeli army said 16 Qassam rockets were fired at Israel on Sunday, seven on Monday and three on Tuesday. None caused any injuries.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1829959,00.html

The article goes on to say that Syria wants the investigation into the murder of Rafiq Hariri stopped, and might exert influence in the Syrian-based Hamas leadership if it could get that.

[stepnw1f]

1. ABOUT F*ckin Time You IDIOTS!

Good God... think of the civilians.

[Igel]

6. I especially like how Syria

might be able to convince Mesh'al, who they ostensibly have no control over, and who has suddenly claimed to have little control over the military wing of Hamas, to stop attacks on Israel if the Hariri investigation is shelved.

But of course, Syria still is a good guy, and Mesh'al still can't be held responsible for anything.

[Kagemusha]

7. There's influence and there's control. Know the difference.

In Hamas' world you can't afford to be seen jumping when a little jerk like Assad tells you to jump (the man is not his father after all, and even if he was, Hamas exists for the Palestinians, not the tiny Syrian religious sect from which the Assads hail). That's not to say they can't try, but they're not going to even do that if it's only going to provide more rope with which to hang them.

[papau]

2. It was rejected by Damascus within hours of being "made" in Gaza.

But for a few minutes I thought sanity had returned to the area.

I do not understand why the article is dated today when the this is old news.

[stepnw1f]

4. damn... I Just Got My Hopes Up for Nothing (nt)

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Not sure, but I think they're saying it's still possible

If youe mean this one, that was said to be on Saturday, so it's possible this involves movement after that.

[papau]

8. Excuse my not researching this - the Palestinian agriculture minister said

with a guarantee of an Israeli release of PA prisoners and a stopping of Israeli military moves against Gaza, Hamas would agree to a cease-fire, release Gilad Shalit, and stop Qassam rocket fire into Israel. While the Palestinian agriculture minister Ibrahim Al-Naja heads the coordinating committee of Palestinian organizations, Hamas itself on Monday did not confirm the offer. But it would be great if Hamas has accepted the Egyptian proposal to solve the crisis - namely no Israeli commitment to the immediate release of Palestinian prisoners, but rather guarantees for their future release.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=Corporal+Gilad+Shalit&itemNo=742558

Qassam fired from south Gaza wounds man in Negev town

By Mijal Greenberg, Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent 25/07/2006 11:31

A Qassam rocket fired from the southern Gaza Strip Tuesday morning landed in a western Negev community, moderately wounding a man.

The rocket struck a packaging factory in the community, causing a fire to break out in the area. <snip>

The IAF late Monday fired missiles at a four-story building in the Shajaiyeh neighborhood of Gaza City, wounding four, Palestinian security and hospital officials said.

The military said the building was used by Islamic Jihad to store weapons. Before the attack, the military called the owner, an Islamic Jihad activist, warning him to get his family out.

The Palestinian agriculture minister, who also heads the coordinating committee of Palestinian organizations, said on Monday that most groups in Gaza, including Hamas, would now accept a cease-fire deal with Israel which would include releasing Gilad Shalit.

Ibrahim Al-Naja said the factions were ready to stop the Qassam rocket fire if Israel ceased all military moves against the Palestinian factions in Gaza. They are also ready to release Shalit in exchange for guaranteeing the future release of Palestinian prisoners. <snip>

[God Almighty]

3. I notice that Hamas is working toward peace and the Israeli govt

is doing the opposite.

[ShockediSay]

9. Hamas gave Israel months of truce while Israel picked off Palestinians

each day during that time.

After that Palestinians resumed firing rockets (more like Roman candles) into Israel.

One of Israel's responses was to wipe out a day at the beach for a family of 7 or 8 Palestinians.

I think the IDF has more than a few bloodlust bastards in their ranks. Witness the shelling of civilian refugees trying to escape, the shelling of plainly marked ambulances, and now the UN post. I agree with Kofi Anan that these appear to be deliberate acts.

[papau]

12. Did Hamas's truce include suicide bombers and rockets? beginning

when.

As to violence against civilians both sides are guilty of accomplishing same, but only the Israel side tries, via warnings and in some cases cancellation of attacks, to minimize such violence.

The US press reported Syrian attempts to resupply Hex with more missiles via transport in civilian vehicles - and the Israeli response to blow up such vehicles. I agree such a response is ineffective and kills 100's of civilians to get one Hez - but it is the same tactic the US used in WW2.

The long history of Hez (and various other groups in the West Bank and Gaza) using humanitarian and medical vehicles to transport men and missiles is well known and I won't repeat it here - but if you interested, much of such activity was facilitated by the English and French left, and stories of such - and denials by those on the left - are not hard to find.

[ShockediSay]

13. The Goebbels technique, also known as argumentum ad nauseam, is the name

The Goebbels technique, also known as argumentum ad nauseam, is the name given to a policy of repeating a point until it is taken to be the truth, with all due respect.

[papau]

15. With all due respect-is the Nazi reference to beexpected of those w/ Nazi

views?

[Alacrat]

10. Israel already said no swap

under any circumstances, so this is won't happen. Weren't there two kidnapped IDF soldiers?

[papau]

11. 2 by Hez in Lebanon inspired perhaps by the one by Hamas in Gaza

n/t

[ShockediSay]

14. inspired perhaps by one family of 7 or 8 on a day at the beach

in Palestine.

"Will it go 'round in circles?"