Jan 25, 2009

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.