Egypt opens talks with Hamas and Jihad on truce with Israel

[bemildred]

Egypt launched talks with Hamas and Islamic Jihad on Thursday in a bid to secure a cease-fire between the Palestinian militant movements and Israel.

Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman's deputies met with officials from the two Gazan militant groups Thursday in the Egyptian city of El-Arish on the Sinai Peninsual, Egyptian security officials said. Egypt was trying to convince the Palestinian militant group Hamas to accept a truce that would involve halting rockets attacks on Israel, in an effort to bring an end to violence in the Gaza Strip and salvage Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Hamas officials said one of the group's senior leaders, Mahmoud al-Zahar, was heading its delegation in El-Arish.

Khader Habib, an Islamic Jihad leader, confirmed the group sent a team to the Egyptian city for "talks about calm."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/961602.html

[bemildred]

1. Hamas denies ceasefire talks in Egypt

Hamas spokesman Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri on Thursday denied that a Hamas delegation to Egypt had discussed an Egyptian initiative for a broad ceasefire. "Until now, nothing has been suggested or presented," Zuhri said.

According to Abu Zuhri, there are no grounds for any talk about a cessation of hostilities or stability in the region without coming to an understanding with Hamas.

On Thursday, it was reported that Egypt has begun mediating talks between Islamic Jihad and Hamas in an effort to bring about a ceasefire between the two armed organizations and Israel. According to the report, senior Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar met with senior Islamic Jihad leader, Qadir Habib, and Egyptian representatives in El Arish. However, a senior Hamas figure vehemently denied the report.

"Our position is very clear: When all forms of Israeli aggression come to an end and the border crossings are opened – then we'll talk," Abu Zuhri said. "When the Israeli side escalates its aggressions, our job is to defend the Palestinian people in all ways and manners possible."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3515963,00.html

[bemildred]

2. Hamas: Cease-fire deal must include West Bank

Hamas said Thursday that any Gaza Strip cease-fire with Israel must include an end to Israel Defense Forces operations in the West Bank, as Egypt launched talks with Hamas and Islamic Jihad in a bid to secure a truce.

Hamas spokesman in Gaza Ayman Taha told A-Shams Radio that the Hamas delegation dispatched to the Egyptian city of El-Arish on the Sinai Peninsula had returned to the Strip.

"We spoke about general issues relating to calm and a cease-fire," he said. "Hamas' conditions are clear: We will halt our fire in exchange for a complete end to Israeli military operations in Gaza and in the West Bank, and a lifting of the blockade on Gaza." "Otherwise, we have no intention of halting our activities against Israel," he said.

Taha said the issue of a prisoner exchange that would secure the release of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was not discussed at the meeting. According to Taha, Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman will visit Israel in the coming days in order to update Jerusalem on the developments.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/961602.html