16.6.03
Israeli FM: Israel will reject ceasefire with Hamas
Ha'aretz reports that Hamas, under pressure from the Egyptians and the Americans, has agreed to a ceasefire.
UPDATE: Ha'aretz now reports that the Egyptian-sponsored talks with Hamas have broken down with no agreement. A meeting between Hmas and Abu Mazen has also been delayed.
Meanwhile, Israel's FM Shalom said that the Israeli government would reject any ceasefire that the PA may reach with Hamas. In fact, nothing short of an all-out Palestinian civil war will pleaase Shalom:
Of course, in terms of a real solution, Shalom should follow his own advice and break up the "extremist" settlers groups in the West Bank and the infrastructure of their settlements.
Ha'aretz reports that Hamas, under pressure from the Egyptians and the Americans, has agreed to a ceasefire.
UPDATE: Ha'aretz now reports that the Egyptian-sponsored talks with Hamas have broken down with no agreement. A meeting between Hmas and Abu Mazen has also been delayed.
Meanwhile, Israel's FM Shalom said that the Israeli government would reject any ceasefire that the PA may reach with Hamas. In fact, nothing short of an all-out Palestinian civil war will pleaase Shalom:
"If there is to be only a cease-fire, and they (militants) can freely move about, they can also build up their armed wings, and the moment they decide that the peace process should no longer continue, they could put this armed wing into practical operation," Shalom told Israel Radio.What this means is that even if Hamas agrees to a ceasefire, all the Israeli government has to do is kill one or two Hamas members, then there is the full-on war that Sharon wants.
"Therefore, we cannot accept this," he declared, adding that if the sides wanted to prevent the peace process from becoming hostage to militant groups, "these extremist groups and their infrastructure must be broken up."
Of course, in terms of a real solution, Shalom should follow his own advice and break up the "extremist" settlers groups in the West Bank and the infrastructure of their settlements.
