IDF forces still in readiness
Photo: Reuters
Palestinian police forces deploy on border with Israel
Photo: AP
Officials: No euphoria from ceasefire
Ceasefire between Palestinians and Israel withheld almost completely for one full day, but IDF and politicians from both sides only cautiously optimistic
The first day of a ceasefire between the Palestinian Authority and Israel ended with an air of careful optimism, on both sides, according to the media.
"No one is euphoric, because we know and have experienced that someone will try to challenge this ceasefire," political sources in Jerusalem told Ynet.
"In the upcoming days, we'll see where everything goes. As far as we're concerned, we'll give the Palestinians time, but we can't say how much time is needed to test the issue."
Sunday morning, despite the ceasefire, Palestinians launched a number of Qassam rockets at the western Negev. The temporary violation of the ceasefire did not provoke an IDF response.
Representatives from the Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office emphasized: "We don't measure a period of calm in hours or minutes. (Palestinian President Mahmoud) Abbas' intentions are straightforward and we intend to take advantage of the opportunity that was created."
Sources close to Olmert stated that there were positive developments on a meeting with Abbas: "I think such a meeting is closer than ever," said one senior official from the prime minister's office.
However, he added, "it's impossible to say when it will happen. There's ongoing communication with the Palestinians, and Olmert's office is in regular contact with Abbas' office, but it's too early to say that the relationship has progressed a stage."
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Pursuant to the rocket attacks Sunday morning, quiet was preserved for the rest of the day, with no incidents in Gaza. The IDF, who had recently increased air strikes in the region, left the jets and helicopters on base.
Like the political echelon, the IDF is also wary of the ceasefire. Sunday, IDF sources said that the ceasefire needs be examined in a thorough manner, and implied that it needs to stand the test of long-term efficacy.
"In Gaza, there's a disturbing process of armament among the terror organizations, weapons smuggling and strengthening of capabilities," explained one source. "The Qassams are troublesome, but they're only one angle of what's happening in the Strip."
IDF tank on its way out of Gaza (Photo: AP)
For the time being, forces will exercise restraint, including a lack of response to singular incidents emanating from Gaza. "We're not shooting for now," the source said, "but we're leaving enough forces close by to stay ready for any development."
"We need to remember that only two or three days ago, everyone was talking about intensifying operations, about the need for an operation like 'Defense Shield'," he added.
"Although we were reasonably certain that this wouldn't solve everything, now we're at the other end of the spectrum – a cessation of fire. We'll watch and see where things lead," he concluded.
PA trend: Keep ceasefire and extend it to West Bank
On their side, the Palestinians also intend to monitor the ceasefire. Saturday, PA security forces in Gaza began deploying on the northern border and, in upcoming days, will complete the deployment of some 13,000 forces.
Saturday night, the Palestinian factions met and decided to continue the ceasefire and extend it to include the West Bank, as well. Heads of the various factions, who met with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, decided to do everything to prevent violations of the ceasefire.
Palestinian police forces deploying in northern Gaza (Photo: AP)
The meeting was intended to stress the importance of the ceasefire. During the meeting, it was decided to create a special committee, comprised of members of the various factions, to execute situational analyses of the ceasefire and bring its findings to the next meeting.
Preliminary steps towards extending the ceasefire to the West Bank are already underway. Palestinian sources posit that there is a willingness to reach such an agreement.
The PA hopes that the next stage, pursuant to an established ceasefire, will be the long-awaited establishment of a unity government, despite the fact that contentious issues have yet to be resolved.
The Islamic Jihad, the organization most reticent to the ceasefire thus far, believes a ceasefire in Gaza is dangerous: The organization's secretary general Ramdan Shelah, stated that the current ceasefire has dangerous implications.
The crux of his concerns appears to be the separation of Gaza and the West Bank. "Is the meaning of this decision that we're leaving the West Bank to riots and Israeli aggression?" he asked.
Attila Somfalvi, Hanan Greenberg and Ali Waked contributed to this report
