Israel and Egypt to resume talks on Gaza cease-fire

By NNN-WAFA,

Tel Aviv : Israeli and Egyptian officials will resume negotiations on Sunday regarding Cairo’s proposal for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, Haaretz reported Sunday.


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Major-General (res.) Amos Gilad, who heads the defense establishment’s political-security branch, is slated to arrive in Egypt on Sunday for talks with Egyptian intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman.

Despite the efforts, Israel has learned in recent days that the Palestinian factions, including Hamas, have rejected the truce proposals put forth by Jerusalem.

The daily added that Hamas is prepared to accept Israel’s demand that the cease-fire begin first in the Gaza Strip, and then in the West Bank, but opposes accelerating the release of abducted Israel soldier Gilad Shalit as part of the deal.

Israel wants to link Shalit’s release with the opening of the Rafah crossing and implementation of the calm, but Hamas insists that these carry separate price tags.

The daily concluded that Israel would agree to opening the crossings for commercial cargo only after the cease-fire has stood the test of time – and apparently only after progress has been made on Shalit’s release.

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