Sunday January 25, 2009, 1:14 pm
Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israel has proposed an 18-month truce with Hamas in indirect negotiations taking place in Egypt.

Hamas heard of the offer during a meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Umar Suleiman, who is brokering the talks with Israel and the other factions.

"Hamas listened to the Israeli proposal presented by [Defense Ministry official] Amos Gilad, and with it a proposal for a ceasefire for a year and a half, but Hamas presented a counterproposal of one year only," Hamas leader Ayman Taha told reporters in Cairo.

A Hamas official with knowledge of the talks told Ma'an that Hamas would condition its acceptance of a truce on guarantees from Egypt and Israel that they would end the siege of the Gaza Strip, opening the borders.

“The Hamas delegation that is recently in Egypt is designated only to discuss the files of crossings and truce and may listen to Egyptian officials on other issues like national reconciliation,” the official said.

This view was echoed by Taha, who said, "The latest truce between Israel and Hamas lasted for six months and Hamas ended it because Gaza stayed under Israeli tight siege and the truce was violated by Israel."

Last week Israel rejected a Hamas offer of a one-year ceasefire, reportedly demanding an indefinite truce.

In June 2008 Israel and Hamas agreed to a six-month truce which led to Israel partially easing its blockade of Gaza. That agreement collapsed after less than five months when Israel invaded Gaza on 5 November. When the truce reached its formal end in December, Israel launched a massive three week offensive on Gaza that left more than 1,300 Palestinians dead.

The Hamas official who spoke to Ma'an also said that “the Palestinian Authority, UNRAWA, international organizations and companies will take a big part of the process rebuilding what was destroyed during the Israeli assault. The reconstruction will include residential projects and PA compounds in Gaza.”

He noted that “there are some Arab and European states who refuse to deliver funds to Hamas, so those funds will be delivered to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, UNRWA and international organizations and companies that will take a part in reconstructing Gaza, while Hamas will receive a part of the funds through different means.”

The official did not rule out coordination with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah during the reconstruction process, saying “we do not mind having coordination but with a high level of transparency.”

He noted that “ Hamas has four files that it is working on accomplishing them including Gaza reconstruction, national reconciliation within the Egyptian adjusted proposal and with Arab sponsorship, communicating with the Arabs, investing in the popular movement that developed against the Israeli war on Gaza, and reaching out to the international community.

Wednesday January 28, 2009, 12:43 am
When Israel stops its military terrorism, war crimes and other oppression against the people of Palestine (e.g. ends its occupation of Palestine's West Bank, and ends its blockade of Gaza), and when Israel agrees to the 2-state solution, including the right for the millions of Palestinian refugees to return, then there will be a lasting peace.

When the USA stops supporting Israel (e.g. ends the annual $3 billion military aid to Israel), then Israel will be forced to end its aggressive, expansionist and genocidal policies.

Sunday February 15, 2009, 5:07 pm
Israel deliberately blocked aid: UNOfficial says UN stocks sabotaged; Olmert wants pullout 'ASAP'


How Social Media War Was Waged in Gaza-Israel Conflict

"If I were an Arab leader, I would never sign an agreement with Israel. It is normal; we have taken their country. It is true God promised it to us, but how could that interest them? Our God is not theirs. There has been Anti - Semitism, the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault ? They see but one thing: we have come and we have stolen their country. Why would they accept that?" -- David Ben Gurion

Monday December 3, 2012, 2:03 pm
Thanks for posting the links, Blue Bunting - very sad...

Don't see how this will ever work out, but do hope it somehow does, and fairly for all concerned.

Wednesday December 5, 2012, 9:12 am
This wont last the ceasefires and treaties never do

Thursday January 10, 2013, 7:26 pm
This headline is completely deceptive. How can you offer a truce when you are violently and brutally occupying the Gaza strip? Then ;you restrict caloric intake to 2,000 per inhabitant. Israel has created nothing but an open air prison in Gaza. The very existence is one of military violence imposed on the inhabitants. The worst sufferers are the children who are totally dependent and don't have the means to run away, fight back, or be self dependent. The children are relicated to just suffer.

Monday January 21, 2013, 4:39 pm
I'm still waiting for Israel to be tried in the world court for the war crimes in Gaza. Over 1,200 dead Palestinians and 13 dead Israelis. Both sides were found guilty of war crimes in the Goldstone Report yet Israel cried wolf. Since then how many more have died? And for those that claim the land was stolen in the first place: Why don't we all move out of America and give it back to it's original owners?? Give me a break. These kind of countries destroy themselves from the inside out. So keep making plans but Gods plan is bigger. You will pay, of that I have NO DOUBT.

Thursday February 28, 2013, 2:36 pm
Cry me a river MjR ---Hamas the leaders of the people were sending rockets over to Israel and Israel wasn't supposed to retaliate ? If I was banished from the USA and had to go to the middle east to live I sure would pick ISRAEL. I couldn't imagine living in any of the muslim countries that treat women like the lowest creatures on earth. I have no sympathy---if they cared about their chillens they'de care about and treat women like human beings. PLUS what has GOD got to do with it . anyway..? .

Saturday March 2, 2013, 7:50 pm
disagree this time janice -- I'm tired of US/Israel colabboration of apartheid - being systematically conducted against Palestine - and when that stops, perhaps I'll think differently!

Saturday March 2, 2013, 7:54 pm
all this god talk makes me wanna puke - why don't they just join the rest of th world and try empathy and compassion and forget their god=damned gods!

Tuesday April 16, 2013, 2:59 am
lee e.: Take religion out of the equation and we would have peace.

Monday May 20, 2013, 3:27 pm
Israel doesn't want peace they want submission,i'm sick of the 2 biggest terrorist organizations in the world(US/Israel)running around spreading this crap about peace.And religion out of the equation and we'd have peace? nonsense your banking masters would just give you another reason the fight .A desert eagle and a few hundred well placed rounds in the banking world and you'd have a much better shot at world peace.