By KUNA,
Gaza : Israeli security sources expressed reservations here Thursday over the cease-fire agreement that was worked out by Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman in Cairo yesterday with the Palestinian brigades.
Israeli radio quoted the sources saying the details of the agreement will be discussed, should Major general Suleiman come to Israel and present it to officials there.
The same sources added that according to the agreements that have taken place in Cairo, Israel would reopen Raffah Crossing between Gaza and Sinai for half a year, after the deployment of European observers and the Palestinian presidential guards, without any interference from Hamas.
The sources expressed hope the truce would help in freeing the Israeli soldier Galaad Shalit, who spent two years in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
Jerusalem Post newspaper quoted an Israeli official involved in the talks over the prisoners saying the negation for freeing soldier Shalit is going parallel to cease-fire negations.
He added that “Israel’s agreement to a truce in Gaza would ‘open doors’ with Hamas and have an impact on the talks concerning a prisoner swap in exchange for the soldier abducted in June 2006”.
The paper adds “A clause in the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire, which has already been accepted by Hamas, is the reopening of the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Sinai according to the terms of the 2005 agreement reached by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.” “The acceptance of the terms of the deal will enable the PA to deploy in Rafah and essentially return to Gaza for the first time since Hamas took over last June,” the official said.
According to the paper, Israeli military officials said that Defense Minster Ehud Barak is inclined to accept the offer of a cease-fire.
The newspaper added that “Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman is expected to visit Israel in the coming days to present the offer to Israel and to hear its response. He will likely meet with Barak as well as with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert”.