Peretz threatens tough response to truce violations
Defense minister warns terror groups against renewing rocket fire; 'Our hand is extended for peace but anyone who rejects it we won't accept that,' he says as Abbas declares all factions will respect truce.
"This morning the ceasefire went into effect, and this initiative is not from nowhere but is the result of continuous military pressure," he added.
"We are interested in a truce and we want to give it a chance, but unfortunately there are extremist factions who continue to fire. When Israel withdrew from Gaza the Palestinians were given a chance to prosper and embrace peace, and I am sure that was their yearning and hope. But unfortunately extremist elements who reside in Damascus and Tehran controlled the streets of Gaza, elements who have no interest in the Palestinian people."
Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Sunday afternoon that all the major groups in the Gaza Strip are committed to the ceasefire, which was breached in the morning.
"Contacts were made with the political leaderships of the factions and there is a reaffirmation of the commitment of what has been agreed to," Haniyeh said.
Ceasefire breached
Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority officials worked to overcome the embarrassment caused by the rocket fire on Israel earlier in the day. Government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said the Authority would investigate as to who carried out the Qassam fire, adding that all the Palestinian factions have agreed to the calm and no one is authorized to breach it.
In the afternoon President Mahmoud Abbas ordered the heads of Palestinian security forces to probe the Qassam attacks and ensure that Gaza militants respect the ceasefire with Israel; however, Palestinian security officials said an increase in the presence of officers in north Gaza is not expected, in hopes that the agreement itself would bring about the cessation of rocket fire on Israel.
Despite the fact that one of the Qassams that landed in Israel after the ceasefire took effect Sunday morning was fired by a Hamas cell, the group’s armed wing said it was committed to the truce as long as it remains mutual. Islamic Jihad, which also launched rockets toward the Negev area this morning, stressed that the organization would not be the cause for the ceasefire’s collapse, if it is respected by Israel.
“The enemy has agreed to a ceasefire following the painful blows dealt by the resistance fighters in the past few days,” Islamic Jihad leader Sheikh Khaled el-Batash said. “The enemy understood that the military solution won’t end the conflict and will not halt the Qassam fire.”
Senior Islamic Jihad members said IDF activity in the West Bank would also constitute a breach of the ceasefire; this issue is expected to be the focus of the deliberations between the various factions, scheduled for Sunday evening. PA officials said they believe the chances that the ceasefire will hold up are good.
Anat Breshovsky contributed to this report
