Is It Possible that Hamas is Ready to “Turn the Corner” for Tactical Reasons
?
July 8, 2006
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
The three excerpts from Jerusalem Post articles, which follow, indicate the possibility that Hamas might eventually release the Israeli prisoner prior to some type of reciprocal action by Israel. It is a slim hope, but at least it now does not seem impossible, and could lead to a “turning the corner” in beginning a long term hudna. The three articles were issued back to back with very little time passing between them, which is very indicative of the very fluid situation now progressing in the Gaza Strip.
I continue to present this “turning the corner” in my blogs as a question, because while I believe the terrorist groups will “turn the corner” at some point in time between now and 2008, I can only wonder if the current events in Gaza are going to be the precise time of its occurrence.
There are two very simple facts that may lead to this thing I call “turning the corner.” One, The Terrorists don’t want Israel back in the Gaza Strip, because it hinders their efforts to build themselves up militarily by cutting off the influx of weaponry from the Egyptian Sinai, and is very embarrassing to them because it challenges their brag they drove Israel out a year ago, and two, the Israelis don’t want to be there in the first place, but Hamas left them little choice.
So, it is within the realm of possibility that the Israeli prisoner will be returned, a cease fire will
be declared, the rocket attacks will cease, and some P alestini
an prisoners may be released.
As I have pointed out hundreds of times, a false peace must come to Israel at some point in time, but exactly how it will come to fruition is impossible to say, only that it will happen.
If the cease fire is declared, then a longer term “hudna” could be put in place by Hamas to prevent a reoccurrence of what is now happening in the Gaza Strip.
The prediction of immediate situations in Israel is, at best, measured speculation, and only God knows which way they will go. The current situation can have a wide variety of outcomes, rang ing from terrible to good, but I do believe that a false peace will be
in place, one way or the other, by 2008, and I guesstimate that a Jihad of 10 Arab nations will be launched against Israel at some point in time between 2008 and 2012.
The three articles from the Jerusalem Post, which follow, are somewhat encouraging that “the corner” may be turned in Gaza over the next few weeks.
Begin Excerpt from Jerusalem Post Article Number 1
Hamas Calls for Cease-fire in Two-week Standoff
JPost Staff and AP, THE JERUSALEM POST
July 8, 2008
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Saturday in response to Hamas’ call for a cease-fire that the group must release kidnapped IDF Cpl.
Gilad Shalit and halt rocket attacks on Israel as a first step.
“Anyone who ignores these two fundamental issues cannot hope to solve this crisis,” he said.
The Hamas government on Saturday sent the first signal it is willing to compromise in its two-week standoff with Israel over Shalit.
“If we want to get out of the current crisis, it is necessary to return to calm, on the basis of a mutual halt to all military operations,” Cabinet spokesman Ghazi Hamad said.
“This is the position of the prime minister (Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas), that everyone return to calm and stop all operations from both sides,” he said.
Hamas’ call came after IDF armored forces operating in and around Atatra in the Gaza Strip returned to Israel, following operations in which four Palestinians were killed.
According to Palestinian reports, three operatives were killed by tank shells in the Shajiyeh neighborhood in Gaza City, and a member of the security forces was killed in Zeitun.
End Excerpt from Jerusalem Post Article Number 1
Begin Excerpt from Jerusalem Post Article Number 2
‘Israel Hopes for New Ceasefire’
JPost Staff and AP, THE JERUSALEM POST
July 8, 2006
Israel hopes its violent standoff with Hamas in Gaza over captured IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit will eventually produce a new cease-fire deal with the terrorists, Culture and Science Minister Ophir Paz-Pines told Israel Radio on Saturday.
Paz-Pines spoke a day Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter said, “If Israel needs to release prisoners in exchange for releasing the soldier Gilad Shalit, Israel will do it. Israel has released prisoners in the past, both in exchange for the release of hostages, as well as in return for creating periods of calm.”
Dichter added that the release of detainees in exchange for Shalit and the cessation of rocket attacks was “an achievable goal.” Dichter stated that Hamas and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would have to find a way out by meeting the Israeli demands.
End Excerpt from Jerusalem Post Article Number 2
Begin Excerpt from Jerusalem Post Article Number 3
PM Rejects Haniyeh’s Cease-fire Offer
Khaled Abu Toameh and JPost.com Staff, THE JERUSALEM POST
July 8, 2006
For the first time since the beginning of the current round of violence, the Hamas government on Saturday announced its readiness to accept a cease-fire with Israel and hold negotiations to resolve the case of kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit.
The announcement was made in the form of a five-point “initiative” that was published by the office of Palestinian Authority Prime Minster Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza City.
Meanwhile, PA President Mahmoud Abbas returned to Ramallah on Saturday after spending the past two weeks in the Gaza Strip trying to resolve the crisis.
Abbas’s aides expressed cautious optimism regarding the possibility of reaching an agreement with Hamas over the release of Shalit.
According to one aide, Egypt and other Arab parties were continuing their efforts to end the crisis despite reports about the failure of the negotiations. “We’ve received some encouraging signals from Hamas over the past 48 hours,” he said, refusing to elaborate.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Saturday rejected the cease-fire offer proposed by Haniyeh.
Olmert won’t agree to a truce until terrorists from Hamas free Gilad Shalit, who they captured nearly two weeks ago, officials in the prime minister’s office said.
End Excerpt from Jerusalem Post Article Number 3
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