Israel rejects Haniyeh's ceasefire proposal
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office rejects Palestinian PM's call for truce between Israel, Palestinian factions. Jerusalem officials say they would not agree to any ceasefire until Hamas frees kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit
The Hamas government on Saturday called for a ceasefire to end its violent two-week standoff with Israel, but Israel rejected it because it stopped short of offering to release an Israeli soldier held by Hamas terrorists.
Officials in the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he would not agree to a truce until Hamas freed Cpl. Gilad Shalit, whose capture provoked Israel to invade the Gaza Strip and bombard it with artillery barrages and air strikes. Earlier Saturday, an Israeli Cabinet minister had said Israel hopes the fighting, which has killed more than 40 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier, will eventually lead to a broader ceasefire deal.
As Israel intensified its offensive in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday called for Palestinian terrorists and Israel to halt operations in Gaza. Eleven days into Israel’s incursion into the Strip, fierce fighting has left nearly 40 Palestinians dead.
A statement issued by Haniyeh's office in Gaza said: "In order to get out of the current crisis, it is necessary that all parties restore calm on the basis of mutually stopping all military operations."
But while the prime minister called for a ceasefire, his Hamas movement continued issuing threats, and said it did not rule out the possibility of targeting Israeli ministers if Israel assassinated Palestinian ministers, the Saudi newspaper al-Watan reported Saturday. Hamas ministers in the Palestinian parliament and other Hamas lawmakers went into hiding out of concern that Israel would target them.
Hamas vows counterstrike if PA ministers hit
A spokesman for Hamas in PA parliament, Salah al-Bardawil, told al-Watan, “It is an honor to the Palestinian government and its leaders to be threatened with death, although Israel understands very well that this is a red line, and there may be a parallel counter-reaction if it is crossed. That is what happened when Israel murdered secretary general of the Popular Front Mustafa El-Zabri (known as Abu Ali Mustafa), which the PRC responded to by killed an Israeli minister. It’s not impossible,” he added.
“The security of Palestinian ministers rests on two things: Their personal security and safeguarding their security, and deterrence. Israel must understand that, and a clear message of ‘eye for an eye’ is being communicated here.”
Al-Bardawil expressed doubts that the Palestinian government would hold its weekly assembly as scheduled Tuesday. “If there is a way to hold the meeting without any losses of life, the meeting may be convened. Ministers are assessing this possibility, but in the end government members must be in communication so suitable decisions can be made,” he said.
PRC threatens large-scale attack
A spokesperson for the Popular Resistance Committees, Abu Mujahad, threatened Saturday that his group would commit “a larger operation that the one in which Gilad Shalit was kidnapped,” in response to the IDF’s offensive in Gaza.
“As we answered the screams of the young girl Huda Ghalia with Operation ‘Shattered Delusions,’ so we will answer the cries of over 60 martyrs. This will bring on an even greater attack against the enemy,” he said.
Security around Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been boosted.
Meanwhile, Israeli troops remain in southern Gaza, at the disused international airport, as well as near the Karni commercial crossing east of Gaza City.
MKs urge Olmert to accept proposal
Knesset Member Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List-Ta’al) said during an interview with Monte Carlo radio that “The Israeli government will sooner or later release prisoners for hostage soldier Gilad Shalit. So why not save bloodshed until then?”
Chairman of the United Arab List-Ta'al party, MK Talab el-Sana, called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to accept Haniyeh's proposal, and negotiate the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.
Meanwhile, the left-wing Peace Now movement called upon the government to agree to
the call.
According to the group's statement: "One fatal accident is enough to turn the tables, complicate matters for Israel, and endanger the lives of IDF soldiers. Thus, we must agree to a ceasefire before it's too late."
News agencies contributed to the report
