Hamas says committed to mutual truce with Israel

Outbackjack
Outbackjack: (Reuters) - Gaza's Hamas rulers signaled on Friday they wanted to defuse tension with Israel that has increased over the past week and they reiterated their desire for a mutual ceasefire.

Israel and the Islamist Hamas fought a three-week war in the Gaza Strip two years ago and frequent exchanges of fire have taken place across the tense border since, with incidents rising recently.

Palestinian militants fired 26 rockets and mortars into Israel this week, including one that exploded near a kindergarten. An Israeli air strike wiped out a five-man rocket squad and a Palestinian shepherd was shot dead near the border.

In front of a crowd of supporters in southern Gaza after Friday prayers, senior leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar said Hamas would be committed to a ceasefire if Israel abided by it.

Zahar said Hamas and other factions were committed to an agreement they had reached last year to stop rocket firing into Israel, although smaller groups continued to launch attacks.

Earlier on Friday a rocket and at least one mortar bomb fired from Gaza landed in Israel. The Israelis responded after dark with three air strikes, one of which wounded a Hamas gunman at a training camp in central Gaza, local officials said.

"We are committed to self-restraint as long as there is no oppression and no aggression," Zahar said.

Hamas, whose charter calls for the destruction of Israel, has said in the past it could agree to a long-term truce.

A spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry said Zahar's declared intentions will be tested by the reality on the ground.

"Hamas has escalated the situation, it can now be de-escalated by simply stopping the rocket fire," Yigal Palmor said.

The United Nations said on Thursday both sides had indicated they wanted to reduce tension around the eastern Mediterranean coastal enclave.

Friday's mortar attack on Israel was claimed by Ansar al-Sunna, a small Palestinian faction inspired by al Qaeda and disavowed by Hamas. There was no claim of responsibility for the rocket launch. Neither incident caused casualties in Israel.
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FogofWar
FogofWar: Hamas does not want peace...they want the world to think they do so that the world will feel sorry for them when Israel retaliates. Hamas has been dealing with the PLO and members of Fatah for years. They want you to think they want peace; then they will cause riots and force Israel to take action; making them look like victims.
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Outbackjack
Outbackjack: Looks like Hamas is really trying here to stop rocket attacks by militant groups.But will Israel stop building settlements and negotiate peace.Dont hold your breath.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Gaza's Hamas rulers deployed forces near the Israeli border Thursday to try to prevent smaller militant groups from firing rockets, a sign that the movement fears Israeli retaliation for the escalating barrages from the Palestinian territory.

Hamas leaders called together representatives of the militant groups and told them to hold their fire, according to Hamas spokesman Taher Nunu, before HTunisia's prime minister promised to announce a new coalition government on Monday and called for calm after security forces fought street battles with gunmen loyal to the ousted president.

At least 25 rockets and mortar shells have exploded in Israel's south this month, according to the military. Several Israelis have been wounded, one seriously. Israel has been hitting back for each salvo with airstrikes aimed at weapons storage facilities and factories, as well as smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border.

The Islamic militant group appears concerned about triggering another large-scale Israeli military campaign similar to a three-week operation two years ago.

An unwritten cease-fire has been in effect since then, but the frequency of rocket attacks has been creeping upward in recent weeks.

Israel holds Hamas responsible for all violence originating in Gaza, though Hamas blames smaller groups for the recent rocket fire. Those groups, like Islamic Jihad and Popular Resistance Committees, have varying degrees of allegiance to Hamas.

This week, an Israeli airstrike killed an Islamic Jihad militant on a motorcycle, a rare targeted killing.

Hamas assembled the militant groups after Egypt warned the militant Islamic rulers of Gaza that Israel was serious about bringing the rocket fire to an end, according to a participant, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed.

He quoted Hamas strongman Mahmoud Zahar as warning them that they were "playing with fire."

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told the groups that their role is to protect the people of Gaza from another attack by Israel, Nunu said.

Hours later, dozens of Hamas police were seen at checkpoints and police posts that had been abandoned earlier for fear of Israeli attacks, as they moved to enforce the cease-fire and stop the rocket fire.

The checkpoints were on roads leading to the Israeli border, including access roads to agricultural areas that are often used by Gaza militants to fire rockets.

Before nightfall, however, an Associated Press photographer said no Hamas forces were to be seen in the area.


Israeli leaders have insisted that they will not tolerate attacks from Gaza, but there was no sign of a military buildup on the border that would signal that another invasion is imminent.

Two years ago Israel sent ground forces into Gaza and blasted targets from the air in an attempt to weaken Hamas and stop the rocket fire, which traumatized tens of thousands of Israelis in the border area, forcing them into bomb shelters and protected spaces several times a day.

About 1,400 Palestinians, including many civilians, were killed in the conflict, and parts of Gaza were heavily damaged. Israel achieved its goal of significantly reducing the rocket salvos, but it paid a stiff price in world condemnation, including a U.N. report that accused Israel, as well as Hamas, of war crimes. Israel has said it was acting in justified self-defense.
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davidk14
davidk14: .
Outback,

Your post, “Hamas says committed to mutual truce with Israel”

By Nidal al-Mughrabi reported from GAZA | Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:55pm EST by Reuters is certainly a first step if they are truly interested in a truce.

It’s however very far off from discussing peace. More likely, Hamas knows Israel is serious about the rocket attacks ceasing. Hamas got a bloody nose last time Israel had had enough of the rocket fire. They don’t want to get their nose broken next time. Perhaps the people of Gaza has had enough of Hamas as well?

Time will tell.

.
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FogofWar
FogofWar: How is there an "unwritten ceasefire" if there are still any rockets being fired into Israel??

I hope the people are fed up with Hamas; and have had enough. The first step towards peace will be the abolishment of a terrorist government hell bent on eliminating Israel. They might also want to stop receiving funds from Iran; which refuses Israel's right to exist; if they want to make it appear they are serious about peace.
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dave3974
dave3974: it is about time the people of gaza kicked out these idiots and then perhaps they could be trusted
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davidk14
davidk14: .

Dave,

Hamas is still in control of Gaza. Nothing has changed. There is a desire for Hamas and the PA to join together once again. A "free election" is scheduled later this year to see who will lead the NEW! and IMPROVED! PA....Hamas or Fatah.

.
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FogofWar
FogofWar: both have a history of corruption...
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Animal Lover
Animal Lover: Hamas does not recognise Israel's right to exist and it was they who broke previous ceasefires.
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FogofWar
FogofWar: Not to mention receiving hundreds of millions of dollars annually; having more than 1000 insurgents trained; and the vast majority of weapons coming from, Iran; the nation that refuses to accept Israel's right to exist; and does not even consider them a nation.....
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davidk14
davidk14: .

Regarding negotiations which some think Hamas can be a part of, the following from the Hamas Charter:


Article Thirteen: Peaceful Solutions, [Peace] Initiatives and International Conferences

[Peace] initiatives, the so-called peaceful solutions, and the international conferences to resolve the Palestinian problem, are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic Resistance Movement. For renouncing any part of Palestine means renouncing part of the religion; the nationalism of the Islamic Resistance Movement is part of its faith, the movement educates its members to adhere to its principles and to raise the banner of Allah over their homeland as they fight their Jihad.

.
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Outbackjack
Outbackjack: Talk about flogging a dead horse.
You dig up a charter of Hamas(again,yawwwwn) and assume that it is set in stone.


So according to this charter when Hamas officials even discuss peace talks they are in breach of Islamist principles?

What does this mean David?

Excommunication?
No virgins in heaven?

Of course not.

Lets look at things another way from your jewish perspective.

Why did Moses break the Ten Commandments tablet?

Maybe he didnt agree with the charter.
Maybe he had a problem with the Hindu faith and its worship of cows.
Maybe he was just having a bad hair day.
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davidk14
davidk14: .

Maybe...you just can't accept the fact that there is an organization who has admitted in voice and documentation that their sole reason for existance is their committment to the destruction of a country and it's people and nothing less.

.
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FogofWar
FogofWar: David; that would not shock me in the slightest.

Don't forget that Hamas is financed by the Iranian government. The very same that claims Israel is illegal and violates Islam.
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chronology
chronology: A curious point is why Pakistan refuses to recognise the State of Israel. You could see Pakistan's acceptance of Israel as helping the Peace process even tho Pakistan is not involved directly in the Peace talks. Pakistan has not set out it's reasons for refusing to recognise Israel, but commentators in Pakistan say if any Pakistani Government does recognise Israel there would be mass riots in the cities of Pakistan. Really? anti Israel feeling that strong in Pakistan?

If any Pakistani Wireclub members can explain to us here why Pakistan takes the position it does it will be appreciated.
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FogofWar
FogofWar: A.) Pakistan is Muslim, which does not mix with Judaism.

B.) Israel has shown support for Indian policies. I'm sure you know Pakistan's stance on India.
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chronology
chronology: It does not look at all like 'Israel supporting Indian Policies'. Israel seems surprised to have been approached by India. Up to 1992 India did not recognise Israel, just like Pakistan didn't, this seemed a position India had maintained since 1948. However the collapse of the U.S.S.R. in 1990 prompted India to take a fresh look at it's International Relations. India then approached Israel and established Recognition Politically and opened up expanding Trade connections while also maintaining good faith with Palestinians. Security considerations also prompted India's move towards Israel as Israel could provide Defence equipment India needed after the break down in Business connections with the U.S.S.R. Another factor was India's ever successful economy, which made recognition of Israel an factor easing Trade negotiations with Europe and the U.S.A.

India also became alarmed at the explosion of Islamic Fundamentalism around the Globe, in particular in it's own back yard. India's expertise in dealing with violent religious factions also seems to give her a professionalism in relations with Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
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FogofWar
FogofWar: It is to the credit of the State of Israel and its political maturity that in the emerging deepening of ties between the two countries, Israel has not let this sad record to cloud its views.

In the military field in India’s critical hour of need of the 1971 war with Pakistan, India sought Israel’s help to supply it with the devastating artillery weapon, 160 mm mortars and ammunition, exclusively manufactured in Israel.

Following the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1992, India and Israel have signed a number of agreements on economic, scientific, agricultural and cultural matters. Joint Commissions stand established in many of these fields including regular foreign office discussions.

India-Israel cooperation has intensified since 1998 and rightly so.

http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers2%5Cpaper131.html
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FogofWar
FogofWar: you contradict yourself on Indo-Israeli relations chrono.
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dave3974
dave3974: hamas must be after some more foreign aid to line their pockets , or perhaps they are in a worse state than we think -either way surely no one can be gullible enough to trust them
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Yan26
Yan26: For Pakistan: Pakistan is a member of OIC. As the people of Pakistan are racially Indian Muslims they are usually seen as inferior Muslims to the Arabs and Iranians. Also Pakistan recieves quite a lot of help from the OIC. Therefore it has to be even more Muslim than the other countries in the OIC.Which is why they opposed Israel in the start. Today Pakistan has become radicalised so there would be riots even though half of them wouldnt know where Israel or Middle East is.

For India: Most people thought that the creation of Israel was unfair to the Palestinians and hence didnt recognize it( even today). But beginning in the 1990's they started taking a more practical approach to International politics. Hence they have befriended Israel. But they also continue to remain close allies with Egypt and do not support Israel in most international forums. Also the opposition to Israel was ideological and not religious. Hence there was never any anti-semitism in India. In fact historically India has always been a refuge for Jews (from Iraq , Jersualem etc) who have never faced discrimination. As a result there is quite a lot of goodwill towards India and hence it was easy for the two countries to come close. Also like I said we officially do not support Israel but still continue making better bi-lateral relations closer.
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FogofWar
FogofWar: well said
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albasry
albasry: if someone occupate 3/4 of your home and throw some of your family out
what you will do ?and that one start to bring people from many different countries and make them live instead of your family, what you will do ?

1- try to talk to him(and you know every minute longer mean more foreign people "in" and more of your family "out" )
2- call the police (for +50 year cops support the bad one and the big cop has a veto)
3- fight (even you dont have a strong army or weapons )

4- mix any of the three choices to get a good result

what anyone in such case should do ?
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FogofWar
FogofWar: Israel wasn't occupying their home until they forced Israel to resist attacks. Don't blame Israel for taking any land; they offered to give it all back at the end of several wars. That's pretty gentlemanly if you ask me.
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davidk14
davidk14: .

Albasry,

Israel is there to stay. Nothing is going to change that.

The Palestinians must negotiate real peace as Jordan and Egypt did.

And oh by the way, you need to ask the question, why didn't Egypt and Jordan "give" the Palestinians the West Bank (Jordanian land) and the Gaza (Egyptian land) during the peace negotiations decades ago with Israel?

It wasn’t the Palestinians that attacked Israel in 1948 and 1967 and 1973; it was Jordan, Syria and Egypt. They could easily have easily negotiated the West Bank and Gaza for the Palestinian homeland and they would have gotten it. They didn't because they did not want the Palestinians to have a homeland. They dumped the mess on Israel.

Don't blame Israel, blame Egypt and Jordan, their Islamic brothers.

And if you really think Israeli's are going to sit ideally by and allow the genocide of 7+ million Jews living in Israel, you are hallucinating no matter what you were taught.

Moving forward, negotiate. The first thing is for Abbas to say to the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza and to the world which must include 100% support from Hamas and Hezbollah…just twelve words….

We recognize the right of the Jewish State of Israel to exist.

.
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Yan26
Yan26: I know I will be panned for this but I have always seen the Isael-Palestine problem not just as religious but also racial. As a fight not just between Jews and Muslims but also between the West and Arabs.
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