Israel peace negotiations in Egypt

 

By Jaime Ortega.

 

The negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza have given fresh impetus with the arrival of the Israeli delegation to the Egyptian capital on Tuesday. The mission consists of Isaac Molha, adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoram Cohen, head of the Shin Bet security agency and Amos Gilad, head of the political bureau of the Ministry of Defence, has landed in Cairo on a private plane and according to information released by the state news agency Mena, the visit will be brief.

The Egyptian mediation is working around the clock after 72 hour humanitarian truce that took effect Tuesday at 5 in the morning GMT. A temporary cessation of hostilities, for the moment, being observed by both parties.

If it seems unlikely that the commitment to non-aggression remain until fulfilled the three days stipulated, as similar initiatives have been dashed before, much harder will achieve a long-term agreement between the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas .

The Palestinian delegation, comprising members of the Islamist group, as well as leaders of Fatah and Islamic Jihad, the Egyptian authorities presented their demands in the previous session of talks held Monday. The jointly signed text must be taken now.

Egyptian diplomatic sources have told the television channel Al Mayadin that Tel Aviv would accept after preliminary considerations, four of the seven conditions of Hamas for a ceasefire.

Among the possible demands compliance to the offensive in Gaza, lifting the blockade imposed on the Strip in the past seven years, the guarantee of the rights of Gazans fishing 12 nautical miles offshore and include release prisoners. Israel on the other hand, in the words of the quoted source, refuse to reopen the Gaza airport, allow the construction of a port and ensure permanent land connection between the Gaza and West Bank.

United States, which has closely followed the negotiations conducted by the Egyptian government, has entered a new chapter in efforts to end a conflict that has claimed the lives of 1,867 Palestinians, most of them civilians, and 67 Israelis . “These are the results from the secretary Kerry, Secretary General of the UN Ban and all our partners in the international arena have been working in recent weeks” read a document issued by the Department of State.

Also through a statement, the EU has declared its satisfaction with the announcement of a humanitarian ceasefire 72 hours, urging “all parties to abide by their terms.” The twenty-eight have been shown to contribute to solicitous lasting pa, so immediately halt the loss of civilian lives.

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