Truce should not be a smokescreen

June 19, 2008

Truce should not be a smokescreen


A CEASEFIRE is supposed to take effect on Thursday between Israel and Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip with hopes that it would hold and contain tensions and check an expected Israeli military offensive against the Mediterrean coastal strip.
Egypt and Hamas, which controls the coastal strip, announced the the Egyptian-proposed ceasefire (tahadiyeh) on Tuesday and Israel officially confirmed it on Wednesday and promised to ease its blockade of Gaza next week.
The first beneficiary of the truce should be the ordinary Palestinian people living in the Gaza Strip under the choking Israeli siege. Living conditions are reported to be at one of the worst points ever in the Gaza Strip and the promised easing of the Israeli blockade should be a major relief for them.
Residents of southern Israel should also be relieved since the ceasefire means an end to the daily rocket attacks against them coming from the Gaza Strip.
Hamas will be in charge of the Rafah border crossing — when it is reopened — and this should allow Gazans to secure their food and needs of basic commodities.
Israel has agreed to work separately on a a deal to free kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, who is believed to be held by several groups, including Hamas allies.
Releasing Shalit will come only in return for freeing a large number of Palestinian prisoners.
Beyond an end to Palestinian rocket attacks against southern Israel and Israeli military strikes against the Gaza Strip as well as an easing of the Israeli blockade, the ceasefire deal has an impact on reconciliation talks between Hamas and Fatah.
It offers Hamas a political and diplomatic plus point that will also give it some leverage in dealing with Fatah. It offers Hamas, rather than Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, the power to force a cease-fire in the West Bank. Reports in the Israeli press acknowledge that if quiet is maintained in the south, Israel will have to extend the truce to the West Bank in another six months.
Abbas is expected to make his first visit to Gaza since Hamas seized control of the area last year, in an effort to negotiate an agreement between Fatah and Hamas. Now he faces a politically strengthened Hamas. That is how many see the evolving situation.
However, the fact should not be overlooked that Hamas represents a major segment of the Palestinian community and it has proved its strength in legislative elections. As such, its involvement is essential in any serious and realistic effort for peace in Palestine. Fatah and other Palestinian groups have recognised it. Israel also needs to accept it and should not see the current ceasefire as a convenient and temporary arrangement that would allow it to come up with new measures to contain Palestinian resistance to its occupation of Palestinian territories.