RAMALLAH/GAZA CITY, 24 December 2007 — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday rejected Hamas’ offer of a cease-fire (“hudna”) in the Gaza Strip, saying the government would not hold talks with the Islamist group until it recognizes Israel. “The State of Israel has no interest in negotiating with entities that do not recognize the Quartet demands,” said Olmert during the weekly Cabinet meeting.
The international Quartet — the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia — have demanded that Hamas recognize Israel, renounce violence, and accept previously signed peace agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization. “Whoever accepts the Quartet principles will, in principle, be a partner for negotiations,” Olmert said. “Whoever isn’t willing to do so, to our regret, cannot be a partner for dialogue with us. This policy will not change.”
“Our security forces have for months conducted numerous operations in the Gaza Strip, in order to reduce to a minimum the Qassam rocket fire, which has plagued the residents of the South, and in order to target those responsible for the Qassam fire,” Olmert added.
He said, “the operations in Gaza will continue, though with great care not to bring about a humanitarian crisis that would impact innocent civilians.” Olmert also pointed out that “this type of humanitarian policy requires a great deal of patience and resilience.”
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak briefed the Cabinet ministers on security developments in Gaza and, contrary to Olmert, hinted at the possibility of a cease-fire with Hamas. “If they stop firing, we won’t be opposed to quiet,” the defense minister said. “Hamas’ consideration of a ‘hudna’ stems from our effective operations and targeted killings.”
Hamas did not rule out a future cease-fire if Israel first stops “all forms of aggression” against the Gaza Strip. “If the occupation commits itself to stopping all forms of aggression against our people, only then the factions may discuss this issue,” Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said. “But until then, there is no discussion among the factions over a calm.”
“We are willing to consider a cease-fire that will end the blockade on Gaza, but it will be time-limited and will carry certain conditions,” said Ahmad Yousef, an aide to dismissed Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.
Meanwhile, Israel plans to enlarge two settlements in occupied Palestinian territory next year, officials said yesterday, casting yet another shadow over newly revived Middle East peace talks. Israel has set aside $25 million in the 2008 budget to expand the Maale Adumim settlement in the occupied West Bank and in the Har Homa settlement in annexed East Jerusalem, the anti-settlement group Peace Now’s head Yariv Oppenheimer told reporters.
Israel’s Pensioner Affairs Minister Rafi Eitan confirmed the report. About 250 new housing units are to be constructed in Maale Adumim and 500 in Har Homa, known to Palestinians as Jebel Abu Ghneim, Peace Now said.
Palestinians warned that the move could hamper the peace talks revived at a November US conference after a near seven-year hiatus, with president Mahmoud Abbas calling settlements the most serious obstacle to the relaunched talks. “We can’t understand these frantic settlement activities at a time when we are talking about final status negotiations,” Abbas was quoted as saying yesterday by WAFA, the official news service of the Palestinian Authority.
“We have begun negotiations and they face obstacles, the most prominent of which is the issue of settlements, which has held us back for so long,” he said at a meeting of local Fatah leaders.
