Hamas Says It Has Halted Rocket Strikes On Israel

New York Times:

DAMASCUS, Syria -- The leader of the militant Palestinian group Hamas said Monday that its fighters had stopped firing rockets at Israel for now. He also reached out in a limited way to the Obama administration and others in the West, saying the movement was seeking a state only in the areas Israel won in 1967.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[Macready]

Thank you Mr Meshel . . .

Hamas is willing to talk . . . it is time to sit down and talk with Hamas and to stop calling them terrorists . . they have two wings . . the political wing is showing a willingness to speak and to discuss a two-state solution . . they were legally elected . . .what's the problem . . . the real problem here is not Hamas but israeli greed and arrogance. .

[JerryLevy]

This is a great opportunity for Israel. Hamas is offering a ten year peace deal and all Israel has to do is pull back to the 67 boundary, give up E. Jerusalem, allow millions of people into their country of Palestinian decent. While Israel will not get recognition and there is no guarantees at all, especially after ten years, this could really work I think. Maybe Arafat did not adhere to any of the treaties he signed, but you know Hamas will.

[chaos4700]

There is already a deal on the table that would give Israel the recognition it seeks.
http://www.al-bab.com/arab/docs/league/peace02.htm
Hamas has stated they will abide by it if it passes referendum by the Palestinian people. Israel has made no such promise and rejects the document outright.

[ProudNeoCon]

To all pro-Hamas posters:

How many Jews survived after 1948 on the land controled by Palestinians between 1948 and 1967? I do not know any...

To compare, 20% of Israeli population are Palestinians whose parent stayed in Israel and became its full citizens..­.

Between 1948 and 1967 Western Wall (holiest place for Jews) was used to garbage dump
Since 1967 Rock of Dome is beign administered by Islamic authority

[ProudNeoCon]

Sorry it should have been Dome of the Rock...

[chaos4700]

In 1999, Ariel Sharon forced his way into the Dome of the Rock, refused to remove his shoes before entering the mosque (it's a grave insult to wear shoes in mosques) and surrounded by a cadre of guards, heavily armed. And he proclaimed it belonged to the Jews, now and forever.

Every Ramadan, thousands of pilgrims are refused access to the mosque from the occupied territories.

The 20% of Arabs who are Israeli citizens only have thirteen members out of 120 -- less than 10%. To contrast with the Jewish minority in the US, they are approximately 2.5% of the population yet 15% of the seats in the Senate are held by Jews. In the last election cycle, the Israeli government instituted a ban on Arab political parties preceding the election. The ban was only lifted by a ruling from the Israeli Supreme Court.

[bibiisbeautiful]

I read the entire story in the Times this morning. The gutless Times' reporter , Ethan Bronner, never asked this terrorist how he could make peace with an entity he refused to recognize --or why Arabs should be allowed to return to someplace (Israel) that does NOT exist in his belief system. Also please note the interview was in DAMASCUS..­..NOT IN GAZA! This guy said he wasn't worried about being killed...b­ut he still is hiding out in SYRIA!! He also wants East Jerusalem as the capital of this new entity---but that is part of Jerusalem.­..Israel's capital! He lied when he said that Arafat and Abbas recognized Israel...a­s...to this day...NO VOTE ON THAT WAS EVER TAKEN BY THE PLO OR THE PA!! The extermination of Israel remains in the PLO charter to this day...as Arafat NEVER let that question come to a vote!! I KNOW these facts hurt all you bashers and haters...b­ut it will set you free!!!

[chaos4700]

Statements from the ruling party of the Israeli government:
http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections/knesset15/elikud_m.htm

"A unilateral Palestinian declaration of the establishment of a Palestinian state will constitute a fundamental and substantive violation of the agreements with the State of Israel and the scuttling of the Oslo and Wye accords. The government will adopt immediate stringent measures in the event of such a declaratio­n."

"The Jewish communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza are the realization of Zionist values. Settlement of the land is a clear expression of the unassailable right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and constitutes an important asset in the defense of the vital interests of the State of Israel. The Likud will continue to strengthen and develop these communities and will prevent their uprooting.­"

"Israel rejects out of hand ideas raised by Labor Party leaders concerning the relinquishment of parts of the Negev to the Palestinia­ns."

"The Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river. "

"The presence of the Israeli police in eastern Jerusalem will be increased. This in addition to the new police posts and reinforcements in the neighborho­ods."

[ProudNeoCon]

Statement from the same document (funny you did not mentioned them):


"Peace is a primary objective of the State of Israel. The Likud will strengthen the existing peace agreements with the Arab states and strive to achieve peace agreements with all of Israel's neighbors with the aim of reaching a comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The Likud will seek to achieve peace and permanent borders in the framework of peace treaties between Israel and its neighbors and will seek cooperation with them on the practical level. The peace agreements will include full diplomatic relations, borders open to free movement, economic cooperation, and the establishment of joint projects in the fields of science, technology, tourism, and industry.

The Arab states' desire for peace will be measured by their efforts to prevent hostile activities by terrorist organizations from their territory and to dismantle the infrastructure of the organizations. This includes closing their headquarters and preventing economic and political warfare and all hostile acts during the negotiations"

"The overall objectives for the final status with the Palestinians are: to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians on the basis of a stable, sustainable agreement and replace confrontation with cooperation and good neighborliness, while safeguarding Israel's vital interests as a secure and prosperous Zionist and Jewish state.

The Likud government will honor all the international agreements signed by its predecessors and strive to achieve a final status arrangement with the Palestinia­ns."

[WoodyTanaka]

'He also wants East Jerusalem as the capital of this new entity---but that is part of Jerusalem.­..Israel's capital! "

Oh, my Gosh!!! Horror of Horrors!!! You mean Israel is actually being asked to GIVE UP SOMETHING?­!?!?!?!???­?!!!!??!!?­!? How can this BE??!

[GrainOSand]

No more rockets. No more war. No more bombing. No more shooting, No more hate. No more lies. No more sub par approaches to leadership. Let enlightened minds prevail. Let peace and harmony marinate the lives of the people involved. Let love and the mutual respect and concern that comes from such, guide the way through the dark thicket of reconciliation. Don't let bygones be bygones, each should fully account for wrongdoing, for there is wrongdoing on each side.

No more rockets Hamas, you cannot cite tyranny when you act tyrannical. You cannot cry bloody murder when you murder. Opposition must take another form. The people of Gaza need Hamas to show enlightened leadership. Continued escalation, war, death, misery, deep sorrow, crippling conflict, these we know already, these -- any old goose could deliver. Those that claim and seek leadership must not be satisfied with just the title and the ability to wave a club around and smack people over the head with it. That smacks of barbarism. That smacks of a primordial, bruised and scarred knuckle instinct, and not evolved expressions of humanity.

If I demoralize a person, if I crush a person, I may defeat that person and gain an enemy forever. If I show that same person love, compassion, empathy, understanding and respect, I might win their heart. If I win their heart I can reach their reason. If I can reach their reason, we can live as one.

[chaos4700]

ISrael's commitment to peace is a sham.
http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections/knesset15/elikud_m.htm
I've posted an extensive analysis previously, assuming it gets through, on the prior thread. No need to rehash that and if anything read it for yourself in its entirety.

[GrainOSand]

Thanks, I will read it. As a quck question however, I would submit that there are citizens of Israel who are committed to peace, or are you saying all of the people are imposters in the peace process? To be sure, there are extremist on either side of the struggle. I cannot indict generally though. I will read your analysis, but I hope it provides a balanced view of "the truth".

[GrainOSand]

After reading the linked material I do have some questions and I did pause a few times as I considered the implications of that expressed. I leave the treatment with a feeling that as long as either of the two sides come to the table with demands and no compromise, there will be no agreement. There are hard lines drawn via the document. I can see how the other side would find those demands unacceptable.

My arms are too short to have an effect on this long standing issue. But I do care about the people involved. Thus I comment on the subject. However, I know my comments amount to a grain of sand in a desert of history and conflict. Greater voices and minds than my own have been unable to resolve this issue.

Fate will resolve this issue if humans do not, the only question is, can we afford that (gamble) as a planet?

[ProudNeoCon]

funny that you missed half of the document which talked about peace...

[mommamia526]

Hamas has halted strikes on Israel FOR NOW. They have employed that tactic before and always resume their attacks. Hamas does not RECOGNIZE Israel, however it wants two states, Israel and Palestine, and it attacks a non-existing entity? My conclusion is Hamas is speaking out of Mashaal's neckhair. And what is Hamas? Is it an officially recognized government entity of any nation?

I think Netanyahu may have a better idea. After 60+ years of negotiations with *Palestinians* and much money thrown at the issue, the *Palestinians* are no better off and have made no progress. They have no government, no jobs, no place to stay, no education, no future. First things first. The population, not the socalled *leadership* should have something to look forward to. They should be given means to better their own lot. I suggest minicredit to start small enterprises, gifts from Arabs to start excellent community schools, etc.

As for territory I suggest the already existing Palestinian territory, Jordan, which also has a well functioning government and a Jordanian Queen. It is prozaic, but practical.

[chaos4700]

Great, yet more examples of Zionist racism at play. Where to start? Well, let's start with some official statements from the ruling party of Israel:

http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections/knesset15/elikud_m.htm

"The Jewish communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza are the realization of Zionist values. Settlement of the land is a clear expression of the unassailable right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and constitutes an important asset in the defense of the vital interests of the State of Israel. The Likud will continue to strengthen and develop these communities and will prevent their uprooting.­"

So Israel wants to take Gaza back...

"The Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river. "

...won't recognize Palestinin­e...

"The government will flatly reject Palestinian proposals to divide Jerusalem, including the plan to divide the city presented to the Knesset by the Arab factions and supported by many members of Labor and Meretz....

The Likud government will act with vigor to continue Jewish habitation and strengthen Israeli sovereignty in the eastern parts of the city, while emphasizing improvements in the welfare and security of the Arab residents.­"

More Jewish will be shuttled into Eastern Jerusalem and the Arabs will be walled in behind more security barriers and check points "for their welfare and security".­..

(cont)

[ProudNeoCon]

same document:

"Peace is a primary objective of the State of Israel. The Likud will strengthen the existing peace agreements with the Arab states and strive to achieve peace agreements with all of Israel's neighbors with the aim of reaching a comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
The Likud will seek to achieve peace and permanent borders in the framework of peace treaties between Israel and its neighbors and will seek cooperation with them on the practical level. The peace agreements will include full diplomatic relations, borders open to free movement, economic cooperation, and the establishment of joint projects in the fields of science, technology, tourism, and industry.

The Arab states' desire for peace will be measured by their efforts to prevent hostile activities by terrorist organizations from their territory and to dismantle the infrastructure of the organizations. This includes closing their headquarters and preventing economic and political warfare and all hostile acts during the negotiations.

"

[chaos4700]

"The government succeeded in significantly reducing the extent of territory that the Palestinians expected to receive in the interim arrangemen­t."

...lauding their efforts at ethnic cleansing.­..

"Based on the Likud-led government's proposal, the 10th Knesset passed the law to extend Israeli law, jurisdiction and administration over the Golan Heights, thus establishing Israeli sovereignty over the area. The government will continue to strengthen Jewish settlement on the Golan."

...continu­ing to annex even more land from neighboring countries by force to expand Israel's borders.

That's the official statement of the current Israeli government. No negotating for peace if it means Israel must return land it gained by military conquest or ethnic cleansing.

[WoodyTanaka]

Has Israel even promised to halt strikes against the Palestinians for even ONE DAY?? No. And they continue to steal more and more Palestinian land.

Rather than Netanyahoo's nutty ideas, how about Israel get it, it's criminal jack-boot-thug army and all the pig settlers out of Palestine and leave it the hell alone. Let the Palestinians run their own show, and stop being such beasts.

And as for your forced march to Jordan, completing the ethnic cleansing started in '47: I guess you just flat out don't care about human rights, huh? You do realize that such forced dislocation is a crime against humanity, right? (Not that this has EVER stopped Israel...) Further, these are native Palestinians; their homeland and home is Palestine. They have every right to live in Palestine. They are not Jordanians.

[MESGAIN26]

why did cnn report the opposite that hamas not for two state solution

[chaos4700]

Because CNN has ceased to be a credible news outlet.

[Aziat]

I guess Al-Jazeerah is the only credible news agency in the whole world

[msfsi]

Hamas' position is that a 2-state solution based on the 67 borders is acceptable for a long term truce. Hamas does not support a permanent 2 state solution because it believes that the balance of power is too much in favour of Israel. The founder of hamas always believed that a permanent solution should be left for future generations of palestinians to decide.

[Aziat]

reading many of these comments on this board, I almost feel scared. Then I pinch myself and remember that Hamas is a terrorist group and that the people on this board who support Hamas are in the very small minority. Huff post really brings out the crazies.

[WoodyTanaka]

Most people on this board do not "support Hamas" as much as they are horrified by the manner in which the Israeli state has mistreated the native Palestinians. Those who would offer blanket support for Israel despite its actions, and even excuse its actions, are the crazies.

[Liberal2]

Yeah, all that nasty shootin' back after some brave martyr blows himself up taking out a daycenter. Or a measly few thousand rockets land in Israel.

some people are just too sensitive.

[mrfreeze]

I don't support Hamas. This is the fallacy that always comes up in discussions about Israel...I­t's the "if you acknowledge my enemy, you are my enemy" attitude of the supporters of Israel. Sorry, some of us struggle with the bigger picture.

Ultimately, this whole situation boils down to an unyielding and virulent hatred between Jews and Arabs. Period. End of story. Religion is the poison that will never allow a reconciliation between those who feel Israel has a right to exist and those who feel that the "holy land" was stolen from them.

There are those who don't support Israel who pinch themselves every day and believe Israel is a terrorist regime.

[chaos4700]

Yeah, keep bashing the Left. This will only drive the Zionists even further from mainstream Jews (who are predominantly liberal) and closer to the neocon war hawks you collaborated with to take us into a false war in Iraq predicated on lies.

[Aziat]

for your information, genius, I never voted for Bush, I never supported the war in Iraq, and I was supportive of Obama from Day One. You think that liberals can't support Israel, you are dead wrong.

[dmcohen]

Most American Jews are politically liberal, and most of those are also unabashedly Zionist---­i.e., they believe that the Jewish people have a right to self-determination in their historic homeland, the land of Israel. Most of those would also add that such state has a right to base its government in the historic capital of the Jewish people (which has never been a historic capital of any other nation): Jerusalem.

We've known the two convictions to be complementary since Israel's founding, and we will not be swayed from either by intimidation tactics from either the left or the right.

[UltraClassic]

To the victor go the spoils. The Arabs need to get it through their heads once and for all that when they tangle with Israel, they are not going to come out on top.

[WoodyTanaka]

"To the victor go the spoils." Even if this were true under international law (it most surely is not), it does not mean that the "victor" can strip away all rights from those people in the land it now controls. They still retain all of their human rights. Israel has no right to oppress them, regardless of whether it "won" a war or not.

[GardenerNorCal]

Hamas is acting in good faith, what does Israel put on the table now? My gut tells me it will be nothing but more hatred and bigotry.

[AdamX]

My guts tell me that you are the bigot. It's ok with you that Israel has been constantly bombarded with rockets by Hamas - you, of course, will blame that on Israel, just like you always do.

Hamas agrees to stop bombardment for a minute, and you think something is on the table?

You really make no sense - your argument is deeply ignorant.

[chaos4700]

Less than a dozen Israelis died last year from rocket attacks before the cease fire. In less than a month, over 1,300 Gazans were slaughtered. Hundreds of those were children.

[Foxrun]

Maybe you should take a realistic look at facts and statistics about the rocket attacks by Hamas. The information clearly shows that Israel is the aggressor and provokes . The longer the lull the more aggressive Israel becomes. Israel provokes an attack in order to demonstrate that there is no peace partner, in order to ensure to continue to play the victim card, in order to ensure that no Palestinian state is ever established.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy-kanwisher/reigniting-violence-how-d_b_155611.html

[MostlyAngry]

They would both like to wipe each other off the map. I think that is a given. And, then there is the issue of power, physical and political. The current momentum is mixed, but it is not totally negative. I am actually surprised that Netanyahu seems so co-operative in spite of his hard line credentials. This conflict has been going on for over sixty years and it is a game that is being played for keeps. And, for Israel that means keeping the Palestinian lands that they stole. The Israelis have all or most of the power, but the offsetting power I feel is the international community's increasing awareness of the issues. That is to say, that Israel really is the bad guy.

[mommamia526]

Sorry, the Palestinian land that is Jordan. Israel *stole* nothing. Israel is not a game, and yes, it is for keeps. Gaza is an *independent* entity, with a terrorist federalist group keeping its population in tenements, and operating out of the midst of them, a.o. from schools and high rise buildings. Hamas should take care of Palestinians, their schooling, providing electricity, water, building an economy and stop demanding aid from anywhere and everywhere. A dependent child can not call itself an adult. Israelis have all of the power in Israel, and Hamas has no rights in Israel, why should they? Israel has no incentive to wipe anyone off the map, nor has it ever declared that it wanted to do so. As far as the PA and Hamas is concerned, their views are on record, all over the world.

[chaos4700]

"Israel has no incentive to wipe anyone off the map, nor has it ever declared that it wanted to do so."

"The Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river. "
"The government succeeded in significantly reducing the extent of territory that the Palestinians expected to receive in the interim arrangement. The government will insist that security areas essential to Israel's defense, including the western security area and the Jewish settlements, shall remain under Israeli rule. "
http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections/knesset15/elikud_m.htm

"The ideology of Revisionist Zionism initially focused on the establishment of a Jewish-majority state in all of the British Mandate of Palestine, both east and west of the Jordan River, but the British handing of control of Transjordan to the Hashemites disrupted this dream."
"The Irgun largely followed the Centrists' ideals but with a much more irredentist, hawkish outlook toward Britain's involvement in the Mandate, and an ardently nationalist vision of society and government. After the establishment of the State of Israel, it was the Irgun wing of the Revisionist Party that formed Herut, which in turn eventually formed the Gahal party by absorbing the centrist General Zionists. In 1977 the new Likud Party, a right wing coalition dominated by the Revisionist Herut/Gahal, came to power and has been an important force in Israeli politics..­."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revisionist_zionism

[WoodyTanaka]

No, the Palestians' home and homeland is Palestine. Israel stole much more than what it was permitted under the partition plan (not that that plan was valid), and continues to this day to steal land from the Palestinians, especially in the West Bank region of Palestine.

[msfsi]

Jordan was created from vast parts of Palestine. This does not mean that the rest of Palestine was intended for Israel. If you pay close attention to the white paper of 1922, it clearly clarified that intent of the Balfour declaration. There should be a jewish homeland in the Mandate of Palestine, but NOT ALL of PALESTINE should be a jewish homeland.

[steamboat]

Two things strike me: .. (1) Where are all the Israel-haters on this blog who were in denial of Hamas always launching rocket attacks into Israel? The Hamas leader here even has admitted it, hasn't he.
...(2) Israel must have this time really really beaten the crap out of Hamas inorder to have Hamas ever admit to Israel existing (wanting a 2-state solution)

[chaos4700]

Nobody denies there were rockets fired by Hamas /before/ the cease fire, or /after/ Israel broke the cease fire on November 4th. You're just lying and making propaganda out of this.

When the Palestinians stand up and resist actively what Israel is doing, you label them terrorists. When they negotiate in good faith, you label them weak. You are not dealing fairly with the Palestinians.

[hidenout]

My god, you keep saying Israel broke the cease fire on November 4th, but you leave out the convenient detail that Hamas was tunneling into Israel, they were spotted and Israel took action. Hamas then lobbed a bunch of rockets.

Not to say Israel was a saint in the clash that followed, but they are probably, and more accurately, both guilty of breaking the cease fire.

[ApolloSpeaks]

HAS THE LEOPARD CHANGED HIS SPOTS?

Has this leopard suddenly changed his spots? Has Hamas`given up its concept of Islamic Peace which calls for Israel's destruction? No more than did Yassir Arafat who went to his death consummed with murderous hatred for the Jewish State. Hamas is setting the trap will Obama fall into it and pour oil on the fires of war? Keep in mind the massive blackout that hit Honolulu on Obama's Xmas vacation just hours before Israel's invasion of Gaza. This was an ominous warning to Obama that engaging with Israel's enemies would plunge the region into greater turmoil and darkness.

[mommamia526]

Your answer lies is what Hamas has REALLY SAID. The headline is phony. Mashaal has said two more words: FOR NOW. Add that to the headline. He has also said *until the formation of a Palestinian state*. This character is very clear, and actually more transparent than Abu Mazen, who says one thing for western consumption and another thing for Arab consumption. And then, of couse, we have the Gaza/Hamas experience of a few years, which speaks for itself. The IDEA that Palestinians would be better off with yet another state, after Jordan, the PA, Gaza, the Hezbullah/Lebanon entity, is hilarious. The Palestinians, the people who are so designated, never get one millimeter further. They are chess pieces used by their *leaders*. No money, no help, no improvement of their lot, ever gets to them, no matter how much is given and how long it is being given. It is funneled off to the *leadership*.

[understandtheissues]

Put your money where your mouth is Israel? The ball is in your court. If there is no peace it is because of you, not Hamas and not the poor Palestinian people!

[ApolloSpeaks]

If there is no peace it's because Israel radically rejects the palis concept of peace which calls for Israel's destruction. Until the Palis give up their hopeless jihad against Israel and unconditionally accept her right to exist as a Jewish State-difficult for them given their traditions-then things will continue to get progressively worse for them.

[WoodyTanaka]

First, "Palis"??? That bigoted nonsense has no business anywhere. Certainly Jewish people have sadly suffered slurs in their history, so there is no exuse for others to suffer them, as well.

Further, why should anyone accept "unconditionally" the Israeli state's right to exist, when it doesn't also unconditionally accept Palestine's right to exist?? Are they not entitled to that which Israel seeks for itself?

[msfsi]

A Jewish State will, and does, by definition discriminate against those who are not jewish. If the non-jews living in Israel are given the same rights as jews, then israel will cease to become a jewish state. Why would anyone willingly accept inferior status in any country? let alone one that has colonized their homeland, ethnically cleansed its towns and villages, destroyed their society, obfuscated their identity and continues to colonize what little land they have left, while unleashing one of the powerful armies in the world against defenceless populations.

[joebaggadonuts]

Finally, someone is talking. How many people had to die to get to this point? Ten years is a good start. Make it 15, and it looks like you could get this done, Bibi.