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Fatah: Hamas ready to accept deal on ceasefire, release of Shalit
 Senior Fatah sources in Gaza said on Saturday Hamas is ready to accept a deal that involves freeing abducted soldier Gilad Shalit, a joint cease-fire and an end to IDF actions in the Gaza Strip. What is not clear is whether Khaled Meshal, the Hamas leader in Damascus, will sanction the Egyptian-brokered deal.
| Why should he? He hasn't smelled any gunsmoke recently... |
The initiative, proposed by Egypt and discussed by Palestinian leaders in Gaza in the last few days, consists of freeing Gilad Shalit, a joint cease-fire and the cessation of the IDF's assassinations in the Gaza Strip and freeing Palestinian prisoners later on. The deal also includes understandings to set up a national unity government.
| And they're all gonna have ponies and get along fine. |
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas met Hamas parliament members and leaders in Gaza, urging them to accept the deal before American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's arrival this week. Most Palestinian factions, including the Hamas leadership, agreed to the deal in principle, but argued that Israel is not ready for a cease-fire as long as Shalit is held captive. Fatah's leadership also rejects a unilateral cease-fire at this stage.
| Simple enough: Dust him off and give him back. |
Egypt, meanwhile, is continuing its efforts to persuade Hamas leaders overseas and in Gaza to free Shalit in exchange for Egyptian guarantees to release Palestinian prisoners later on, as part of a comprehensive cease-fire deal. Dr Salah al-Bardawil, head of the Hamas parliamentary faction, told Haaretz that if Israel stops its actions in Gaza, most streams would accept a cease-fire.
| But not all. It's never all. Hamas accepts, Islamic Jihad rejects. Hamas and Islamic Jihad accept, the al-Aqsa Martyrs don't. Or PFLP, or DFLP, or Tanzim, or the Popular Committees. I think we're on to that racket now. |
He added, however, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh already proposed a unilateral cease-fire and Israel rejected it.
| Since they know the drill... |
Hamas leaders in Gaza are interested in separating the negotiations over the Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit from Hezbollah's negotiations over Lebanese prisoners. Bardawil stressed that there is no cooperation between Hamas and Hezbollah about the prisoner exchange negotiations. "We don't intend to reach a joint deal. Hezbollah entered the picture after Hamas was already in it, they want their prisoners and we have ours," he said.
| "They're gonna be sent packing. We want to stay here." |
It is not clear whether Meshal is also in favor of a separate Hamas deal with Israel. Fatah sources said that Hamas' Gaza leadership does not want its name mixed up with the fighting in Lebanon, especially in view of the sharp international criticism of Hezbollah.
| The Soddies have been critical of both Hezbollah and Hamas, since they're both doing the same thing. |
Hamas leaders believe Hezbollah has harmed the Palestinian cause by its actions and are striving to reach a separate deal with Israel. However, Fatah officials are doubtful about the chances of reaching an agreement, due to the unclarity of the position of Hamas' overseas leadership, headed by Meshal.
Posted by: Fred 2006-07-23 |
