By JPOST.COM STAFF
05/04/2010 14:02
05/04/2010 14:02
Egypt is working night and day to stop the deterioration of the situation in Gaza, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported on Monday, citing a statement by a senior Cairo official.
“Egypt is currently making intensive contacts at the highest levels with both Israel and the Palestinian factions to contain the escalating tension in the Gaza Strip in order to prevent deterioration of the situation,” the statement reportedly read.
The UK-based paper assessed that the statement was all the more significant in light of recent reports that Israel was planning a massive ground operation in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, a possibility Palestinian sources have ruled out. Israel, they were quoted as saying, had learned its lesson from Operation Cast Lead – which they termed “a failure despite its bloodshed and intensity” – and would now limit its attacks on the Strip to air strikes.
The reports of a planned IDF retaliation surfaced following a month of increased tensions between the two sides, augmented by repeated rocket attacks against the Negev and an ambush in which two IDF soldiers were killed.
The paper quoted the Egyptian official as saying that the current circumstances in both Gaza and the Israeli leadership evoke the circumstances that led to last winter’s IDF controversial offensive in Gaza.
“The situation over the past two days has raised concerns in Egypt concerning permanent stability in the Palestinian territories,” the official was quoted as saying. “This led the Egyptian side to intensify its contacts and efforts vis-à-vis the Palestinian and Israeli sides.”
Egypt is a major player in efforts to renew peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as in efforts to promote reconciliation between the Palestinians themselves.
Meanwhile on Sunday, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that various Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip had met on the previous night to discuss prospects for unity between them and also for a possible truce with Israel.
Jerusalem Post
Note: "Israel learned its lesson ... Cast Lead a failure".... Oh yeah, these terrorists have foot in mouth disease! It was such a failure that the rockets from Hamas stopped for some time after the war; it was such a failure that Hamas is now talking about "unity; such a failure that if this is even half true, they want a "truce with Israel"; ....
Ok, begin, by first releasing Israel's IDF soldier; recognize Israel's right to exist; lay down all your weapons; raise a white flag of surrender; cut off ties with Iran; start planting seeds instead of making plants to build those rockets and then, maybe talks about a "truce" can begin.
Bee Sting
“Egypt is currently making intensive contacts at the highest levels with both Israel and the Palestinian factions to contain the escalating tension in the Gaza Strip in order to prevent deterioration of the situation,” the statement reportedly read.
The UK-based paper assessed that the statement was all the more significant in light of recent reports that Israel was planning a massive ground operation in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, a possibility Palestinian sources have ruled out. Israel, they were quoted as saying, had learned its lesson from Operation Cast Lead – which they termed “a failure despite its bloodshed and intensity” – and would now limit its attacks on the Strip to air strikes.
The reports of a planned IDF retaliation surfaced following a month of increased tensions between the two sides, augmented by repeated rocket attacks against the Negev and an ambush in which two IDF soldiers were killed.
The paper quoted the Egyptian official as saying that the current circumstances in both Gaza and the Israeli leadership evoke the circumstances that led to last winter’s IDF controversial offensive in Gaza.
“The situation over the past two days has raised concerns in Egypt concerning permanent stability in the Palestinian territories,” the official was quoted as saying. “This led the Egyptian side to intensify its contacts and efforts vis-à-vis the Palestinian and Israeli sides.”
Egypt is a major player in efforts to renew peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as in efforts to promote reconciliation between the Palestinians themselves.
Meanwhile on Sunday, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that various Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip had met on the previous night to discuss prospects for unity between them and also for a possible truce with Israel.
Jerusalem Post
Note: "Israel learned its lesson ... Cast Lead a failure".... Oh yeah, these terrorists have foot in mouth disease! It was such a failure that the rockets from Hamas stopped for some time after the war; it was such a failure that Hamas is now talking about "unity; such a failure that if this is even half true, they want a "truce with Israel"; ....
Ok, begin, by first releasing Israel's IDF soldier; recognize Israel's right to exist; lay down all your weapons; raise a white flag of surrender; cut off ties with Iran; start planting seeds instead of making plants to build those rockets and then, maybe talks about a "truce" can begin.
Bee Sting
