Hamas Sets Terms; Israel Expands Settlements

Secret negotiations are underway between Hamas and Israel with Egypt as the go between. Hamas has gone public showing it's strength relative to Israel.
The Associated Press

Gaza's Hamas prime minister publicly set his conditions Wednesday for a cease-fire with Israel to end the fighting that has killed dozens in recent weeks. Ismail Haniyeh demanded an end to Israeli military activity in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, a lifting of Israeli economic sanctions and the opening of Gaza's borders, which have been sealed since the Islamic militant group seized control of the territory last June. "We are talking about a mutual, comprehensive calm, which means that the enemy must fulfill its obligations," Haniyeh said in a speech at Gaza's Islamic University. "The Israelis must stop the aggression ... including assassinations and invasions, end the sanctions and open the borders."


With U.S. backing, Egypt has been trying to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas following an especially bloody round of fighting that left five Israelis and more than 120 Palestinians dead over the past two weeks. "There are efforts by the Egyptian brothers who are working on this issue. We as Palestinians are waiting for the Israeli answers," Haniyeh said. "The ball is in Israel's court."


The fighting has subsided in recent days, but both sides have denied talk of a formal truce.

Meanwhile, Israel proceeds to weaken further Abbas, their "peace partner" by building settlements before they have an agreement. They also show the US to be either liars or weak in the face of Israel.
It's no surprise the war is still on in Israel, they keep fanning the flames and inspiring a new generation of terrorists. Hamas and Hezbohlah are both the result of Israel's excesses.
BigNewsNetwork.com

On Sunday the Israeli cabinet approved a 750-home project in the Givat Ze'ev settlement, north of Jerusalem, five kilometers past the Green Line. "You can't freeze building in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas, where there is a great need for housing," Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Industry, Trade, and Labour, Eli Yishai, said.


UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon clearly doesn't agree. “Any settlement expansion is contrary to Israel’s obligations under the Road Map and to international law,” Ban said through a statement released by his spokesperson on Monday. Addressing the parties in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Secretary-General re-emphasized the importance of fulfilling obligations under the Road Map, the peace framework drawn up by the Middle East diplomatic Quartet consisting of the UN, European Union, United States and Russian Federation.


Asked about international condemnation of the settlements expansion, Yishai, who is also the Shas Party leader, described the calls to stop as "illegitimate." "If we can't build, then we can't negotiate. If this activity brings an end to the talks, then that is just," he said.


Yishai told The Jerusalem Post Wednesday he expected the Defense Ministry to approve a number of projects in the haredi settlement cities of Modi'in Illit and Betar Illit, as well as in Ma'aleh Adumim, which has a mixed Orthodox and secular population. The three cities, all of which are located a short distance beyond the Green Line, are among the largest Jewish population centers in the West Bank. In addition, according to a Shas spokesman, a number of projects in the settlements of Ariel, Efrat, Sha'arei Tikvah and Elkana have been approved or are about to be approved. The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday obtained a list of some of these projects signed by Defense Ministry settlements adviser Eitan Broshi. A spokesman for Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he could not verify the list's authenticity but added that he did know that some projects had been authorized. A quick check with some of the settlement leaders showed, however, that they were unaware that they had received or were about to receive permission to build, The Jerusalem Post reported.


"Israel is sending a very bad message that shows its contempt for the negotiations." Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qorei told reporters after meeting with Tony Blair, the international Middle East envoy, in Ramallah.


The United States said news of settlements expansion was "unhelpful."