JERUSALEM — Israel appears to have raised the ante on Egypt's package for a ceasefire between Gaza and the Jewish state Monday, sending home top Egyptian mediator Omar Suleiman with a new demand to pass on to Hamas: the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit. Meanwhile, violence between Gaza militants and Israel continued and a Qassam rocket killed an Israeli woman.
The long-denied, behind-the-scenes negotiations between Israel and Hamas through Egyptian mediation officially came out of the closet Monday with the visit of Mr. Suleiman to Israel. The Egyptian intelligence chief met with numerous Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Trade Minister Eli Yishai, to discuss the Hamas proposal for a six-month ceasefire in Gaza accompanied by a lifting of the economic embargo on the territory.
For months, Israel and Hamas have been indirectly discussing the release of Cpl. Shalit in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Now, however, it appears the soldier, captured almost two years ago, must in some way be part of the ceasefire.
“It's clear that quiet in the south will need to include a total cessation of these sort of tactics [Gazan violence against Israel], a total cessation of arms smuggling into Gaza and movement on Gilad Shalit,” said the Prime Minister's spokesman, Mark Regev, stopping short of making a direct linkage. He refused to say whether such a deal would now include the release of Palestinian prisoners.
“I'm not getting into that,” he said.
“Israel is trying to squeeze Hamas because it knows that Hamas wants the ceasefire very badly,” said Gershon Baskin, the co-director of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information, who has been involved in the mediation efforts for a ceasefire and for Cpl. Shalit's release. “It could be a good idea but it could backfire and end up in escalation.”
Neither side is letting up on the violence. Last Wednesday, Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in Gaza, including a mother of six in her home. The UN has demanded an impartial investigation into the death of the woman, who was a UN-employed teacher.
On Friday, a Palestinian rocket killed an Israeli in a kibbutz near the Gaza Strip. Later that day an Israeli air strike killed five Hamas policemen, and on Sunday, Maan News Agency reported that undercover Israeli forces inside Gaza killed a 23-year-old man who threw a grenade at them when they approached. Monday, a 70-year-old Israeli woman died when a Palestinian rocket landed near her in Moshav Yesha.
Israel simultaneously warned of a massive invasion and remained optimistic for a solution.
“We had good talks today with Omar Suleiman,” said Mr. Regev, adding that Israel expected the talks to continue. “The current situation is simply not sustainable. This is the second casualty in less than a week. We will have to act to protect our civilians.”
Mr. Suleiman remained optimistic, hinting that a solution would be found in a multi-stage agreement: “The ceasefire will help [bring about] the release of Gilad Shalit.” But in the meantime, he said, the two sides need to agree upon whom Israel releases in exchange.
Special to The Globe and Mail
