By NNN-KUNA,
Gaza : Israel will positively respond to the Egyptian-mediated cease-fire proposal in Gaza Strip, Israel’s “Haaretz” newspaper reported on Monday.
The paper said Israel did not intend to officially declare its commitment to the Egyptian proposal, but would take s a series of steps, beginning with a lull in military action, followed by gradual relaxation of the “financial blockade” of Gaza.
Meanwhile, Hamas would dispatch a delegation to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, as Israel informed Egyptian mediators about its preliminary agreement of the truce.
The delegation would be headed by Moussa Abu Marzouq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahhar, a prominent Hamas leader, Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman along with other prominent officials from Hamas.
Furthermore, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak will be heading to Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt to hold talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, aimed at reducing rising tension in Gaza Strip.
Israeli political sources strongly warned Palestinian factions, demanding to halt their rocket attacks on southern Israel.
Israeli sources said Palestinian brigades should realize that if they fail to stop these attacks, the Israeli Army would “use all its power to limit Hamas rule.”
Israel fore-warning came after return of Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Sunday, from Sharm El-Sheikh where she met her Egyptian counterpart, Ahmad Abul Al-Gheit, on sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF).