The
Israeli view
As
Israel and Hamas grapple with cease-fire, Barak and Netanyahu
disagree on terms
Hamas,
Islamic Jihad statement on imminent lull in fighting delayed at last
minute over 'Israeli requests'; Israeli official: Egypt is interested
in seeing Hamas gains.
21
November, 2012
Following
a day of intense diplomatic efforts, and grueling negotiations in
Cairo, a statement on a cease-fire in Gaza, due to come into effect
midnight Tuesday, was postponed in the last minute. Egyptian
officials and senior Hamas operatives indicated that an Israeli
request was the reason for the delay, and that talks would resume on
Wednesday morning.
A
senior Israeli official said the latest draft compiled by Egyptian
intelligence officials wasn't favored Israel. Though the Egyptians
adopted Hamas' stances on some points, especially with regards to
everything doing with opening border crossings, loosening the
blockade, and annulling the 500-meter security zone on Gaza's side of
the border, to which Israel bars the entrance of Palestinians.
"These
aren't [former Egyptian President Hosni] Mubarak and [former Egyptian
Vice President] Omar Suleiman, who reviled Hamas," the senior
official said, adding: "Today it's [Egyptian President Mohamed]
Morsi who's calling the shots."
The
official added that the Egyptian leadership represented "a group
of people who want to deliver achievements to Hamas. The choice isn't
between good and bad understandings, but between a cease-fire and an
extensive and dangerous ground offensive in Gaza."
During
the discussions taking place at the Prime Minister's Office
throughout Tuesday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak was in favor of
accepting the Egyptian draft. On the other hand, Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman argued that
Israel's can't back down on essential issues.
Israel
told Egypt, at first, it was interested in a cease-fire based on the
"quiet-for-quiet" principle, in which Israel demands the
cessation of rocket fire and of attacks against IDF troops along the
border, as well as stopping attacks from the Sinai facilitated by
Gaza militants.
Israel
demands that Hamas be held responsible for making sure the Gaza
Strip's other groups uphold the Palestinian end of the deal. In
return, Israel will stop the IAF strikes and the assassinations of
militants. However, Israel demands that it retain its right to take
militarily action in order to thwart nefarious operations against it
in Gaza.
During
the second stage, once the cease-fire is given a trial run of sorts,
Israel would be willing to open talks with Egypt on Hamas' demand,
especially loosening the blockage on Gaza and opening the border
crossings. Israel demands that, at that stage, discussions concerning
the smuggling of arms into the Gaza Strip will take place and that
Egypt will provide assurances to prevent its taking place.
On
Tuesday afternoon, Israeli and Hamas officials estimated that the
sides were close to a cease-fire agreement. Hamas and Islamic Jihad
representatives in Cairo were already planning to announce that the
lull would go into effect at midnight in a press conference.
A
senior Israeli official stated on Tuesday evening that "there
isn't an Israeli agreement to any cease-fire draft." He added
that if Hamas stops firing rockets Israel would stop its attacks on
Gaza.
According
to some, Israel delayed its response to Egypt because it wanted to
coordinate its negotiating positions with U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, who arrived in Israeli on Tuesday. Clinton left the
airport directly to a night meeting with Netanyahu, Barak and Foreign
Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
At
a press conference with Netanyahu before the meeting, Clinton
declared that the U.S. supported Israel's position. "America's
commitment to Israel's security is rock-solid and unwavering, that is
why we believe it is essential to de-escalate the situation in Gaza,"
said Clinton. "The rocket attacks from terrorist organizations
inside Gaza on Israeli cities and towns must end and a broader calm
restored."
Netanyahu
stated that "If there is a possibility of achieving a long-term
solution to this problem with diplomatic means, we prefer that, but
if not, I'm sure you understand that Israel will have to take
whatever action is necessary to defend its people."
Today,
Clinton will arrive in Cairo to meet with Egyptian President Mohammed
Morsi and with a delegation of Arab League foreign ministers. U.S.
President Barack Obama, who unexpectedly sent Clinton to the region
on Tuesday, conducted three telephone conversations with Morsi in the
last 36 hours and requested he apply pressure to Hamas urging them to
halt their rocket fire. Israel is interested in having Clinton
finalize a cease-fire understanding with the Egyptians and confirm
that it won't be to Israel's detriment.
Over
the course of Tuesday, diplomatic contacts continued to take place.
Netanyahu met with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who
went directly from Jerusalem to meet with senior Egyptian officials
in Cairo. Afterwards, Netanyahu met with UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon, who will arrive in Cairo on Wednesday to meet with Morsi.
Netanyahu
also had a phone conversation with Jordan's King Abdullah II on
Tuesday. Abdullah cautioned the prime minister against widening the
campaign in Gaza to include a ground operation. A press release
issued by the Jordanian palace stated that Abdullah cautioned
Netanyahu of the risk of a deterioration of the situation in Gaza and
the dangerous implications for the security and stability of the
region.
"Ending
all forms of escalation will clear the way for diplomatic efforts and
will bring calm," the king was quoted as saying to Netanyahu.
Before the conversation with Netanyahu, Abdullah talked with Morsi
and asked him to redouble his efforts mediate a cease-fire.
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