Defence Minister Barak to finalise details of Gaza ceasefire in Egypt talks tomorrow

According to Israeli media reports this morning, Israel looks set to agree unofficially to the Egyptian-brokered truce with Hamas, while avoiding an open endorsement of it. Nevertheless, the tacit acceptance of the truce does not indicate a more general optimism on the part of senior Israeli officials regarding the likelihood of long-term quiet between Israel and Hamas. "If I get the green light from Barak, I could set the hour for the ceasefire to go into effect tomorrow in my meetings with Hamas in Cairo," Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman told MK Yossi Beilin on Sunday.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak is scheduled to meet with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt at the World Economic Forum summit at Sharm al-Sheikh. He is likely to stress to Mubarak the importance of increased Egyptian efforts to stop Hamas arms smuggling into Gaza. Barak is understood to support a cessation of IDF incursions into Gaza, in return for a cessation of rocket fire on the towns of the western Negev. Israel is also understood to have linked the further lifting of the blockade to progress on talks for the freeing of Gilad Shalit.

Despite the expected agreement, Barak is understood to consider that a large-scale military action by the IDF into Gaza remains likely. According to an article in Haaretz today, the lack of a climate of international support for a large operation into Gaza has been part of the calculation for Israeli leaders. Nevertheless, they consider that if the ceasefire is given a chance to work and is then seen to fail, this will create the necessary background of international understanding of Israel's position.

The growing Iranian influence in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon have convinced Israeli policy makers that urgent steps are needed to weaken Tehran's involvement. With regards to the Gaza Strip, it is believed that an improvement in living conditions and improvement of the economic situation will reduce the influence of extremist elements that have been operating in the strip. IDF sources recently reported that several terror operatives trained in Iran were arrested during military activity in the strip. It is hoped that the arrangements of the ceasefire agreement will include a dramatic improvement in the Egyptian activity against weapons and people being smuggled into the strip, therefore reducing Iran's ability to insert disruptive elements into Gaza.

Back to top Previous article Next article