Palestinians cease missile fire from Gaza; for real or a maneuver?

Question

Palestinians cease missile fire from Gaza 0600 Sunday, Nov. 26 - for real or a maneuver? November 26, 2006, 12:47 AM (GMT+02:00)

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office has responded favorably. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas was informed by Hamas of the decision and passed the word to PM Ehud Olmert who confirmed that all the Palestinian terrorist groups led by Hamas agreed to stop firing missile attacks and using suicide bombers. The Palestinian step is conditional on Israel halting military operations, liquidations and demolitions.

DEBKAfile’s military sources report: Hamas and its allied terrorist groups have been feeling intense heat from successful pinpointed IDF operations taking place in the last week against Qassam missile squads and commanders in the northern Gaza Strip. The terrorists are also worried by the possibility of the former chief of staff Ehud Barak taking over in defense.

Olmert agreed to halt Israeli military actions in Gaza in return for the cessation of Palestinian missile fire, but offered no commitment with regard to the West Bank. This will be the subject of a major confrontation next week between Olmert and the chief of staff Lt.-Gen Dan Halutz - who both oppose halting IDF counter-terror operations on the West Bank in return for the missile ceasefire from the Gaza Strip - and defense minister Amir Peretz and the other Labor ministers, who want to meet the Palestinians half way.

Hamas is maneuvering for a chance to complete its takeover of the West Bank, overwhelm Fatah strongholds, seize control of the Palestinian Authority and complete its military and missile build-up at close quarters to the main cities of central Israel.

Israel’s military intelligence-AMAN and the Shin Beit warn the prime minister to heed the underlying motives of Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshaal in initiating the ceasefire during his talks with Egyptian intelligence minister Omar Suleiman. At his news conference Saturday, Nov. 25, Meshaal gave Israel an ultimatum: Pull back to the June 4, 1967 lines within six months for the international community to establish an independent Palestinian state - or else face a third intifada. Israeli intelligence chiefs calculate that six months is the period Hamas needs to wind up its preparations for waging another war. Since the deep Israel incursions into the Gaza Strip are upsetting these preparations, the hard-line, Damascus-based Hamas leader hit on the maneuver of ceasing missile fire as a device to get Israeli troops out of Hamas’ way in Gaza.

So far, the Hamas terrorists have fired four missiles into Southern Israel in violation of the ceasefire.

Archie, I am sorry but I cannot look through over 2000 answers at Devora's page. I looked through about 20 and didn't find yours. Also, I find no contradictions in what I wrote.

Jonathan, you ignore the fact that Israel pulled out of Gaza over a year ago.

Israel thought that by leaving Gaza entirely in August 2005, that the Arabs would get their act together and develop their economy. Instead, the Arab have seen fit to launch thousands of missiles at Israel's civilian population, intending to kill as many citizens as possible.

Israel, on the other hand, is trying to live in peace. When they do attack, it is with the clear objective of silencing the Arab terrorists. By international law, Israel is totally justified in its quest to protect its citizens. The Arabs are in total violation of international law by unprovoked attacking of innocent civilians in Israel.

The Palestinian Arabs could have had a state already, if they only behaved like civilized human beings. But they have proven time and again that they are not ready to behave, and so the Arabs will have to exist with "only" 22 states.

Answer 1

This post of yours here is confusing and contradictory regarding the reasoning to said conflicts to your post to my question a few minutes ago, regarding the same Devora. Unless in my question you meant that Israel wants their own land? Number 16 huh? Good job! My father gives speeches there occasionally. He didn't go there though, Cornell. MY answer to this question is: Click on Devora, scroll to answers, find Archie.

Answer 2

"Ceasefires" in that conflict are so meaningless I don't even know why they even bother.

My favourite part (in the "so absurd that its funny" dept.): When Israel tries to take out Hamas terrorists, Hamas claims Israel "violated" the ceasefire and it will now retaliate, the media reports Israel's violations of the said ceasfire without realizing that a) The ceasefire was never between Israel and Hamas but negotiated between Fatah and Hamas b) The ceasefire was around 2 years old and violated numerous times already.
(I had actually read this in the newpaper two months (?) ago.)

Answer 3

Seems the Arabs understand "ceasefire" to mean they can only fire a few missiles each day at Israeli towns.

"Within hours after the ceasefire began, five rockets were fired at the western Negev, most slamming into city of Sderot. Monday’s attack was also aimed at Sderot, a community which has been the target of thousands of Kassam rockets over the past year."

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=116409

Answer 4

Look: The [REAL] Palestineans want the region to have peace as much as the [REAL] Isrealis/Jews.
The BEST solution is for Israel to let the Palestineans have a greater say in their own government. As long as Israel makes rules for Palestineans, the Palestineans need to be included in the rule-making process, or they WILL IGNORE THE RULES.
In spite of all the 'religious strife' between Israelis and Palestinians, a lasting and consolidating peace is possible, among counrtymen who face threats greater than religious eggshell differences.
Israel should embrace Palestine as a modern neighbor "MY PEOPLE" within Israel, vs. regarding Palestine as not being welcome in Israel. You could even change the name.
If Allah's People and Yahweh's People, and Christ's People and God's People are TRULY incompatible, then all is vain.
We will have to reconcile our differences by killing each other... each with a source, and each with a destination.
If, as I decide, we are ALL THE SAME, then we will live well together.

Answer 5

as you may know by now, the ceasefire was violated almost immediatly by more rockets being fired into Israel.

Answer 6

Dont believe they will stop, Their aim is to get rid of all the Jews