WAR: Palestinian Groups to Honor Cease-Fire, page 1

posted on Mar, 17 2005 @ 07:05 PM

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Palestinian militants declared a halt to their attacks on Israel for the rest of this year. This is their longest cease-fire promise ever and a victory for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. The Palestinian militants also warned that the truce would collapse if Israel does not hold its own fire and release the Palestinian prisoners of war.

news.yahoo.com
SIXTH OF OCTOBER CITY, Egypt - Palestinian militants declared a halt to attacks on Israel for the rest of this year, their longest cease-fire promise ever and a victory for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. But they warned Thursday the truce would collapse if Israel does not hold its own fire and release Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon described the announcement as a "positive first step," though he insisted that for greater progress to take place "terrorist organizations cannot continue to exist as armed groups." A top aide to Sharon, Ranaan Gissin, said Israel would continue to refrain from military action so long as Palestinians do not attack Israelis.

The U.S. State Department cautiously welcomed the declaration. Deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said the steps "certainly were not negative" but he called them "incremental" and "very provisional." He added that "they don't go as far as we would like."

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

This is huge news and a great positive for any chance of peace in the Middle East. I hope that this cease-fire lasts for this year and then even longer into the future. I think, that if there can be a working cease-fire for this entire year, then there is no limits to what other peace talks and actions can do for the Middle East and the world.

worldwatcher

posted on Mar, 17 2005 @ 07:23 PM

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This is such dubious offer of a cease fire. Do these Palestinian militants really expect that Israel will release all the prisoners they currently have, especially since many of these prisoners are really criminals, and have committed horrendous crimes.

But I hope the peace last.

Crakeur

posted on Mar, 17 2005 @ 07:26 PM

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never happen.

too many factions and small offshoots that will want to take advantage of the cease fire and give a name to their group

they see ALL

posted on Mar, 17 2005 @ 07:28 PM

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Originally posted by worldwatcher
This is such dubious offer of a cease fire. Do these Palestinian militants really expect that Israel will release all the prisoners they currently have, especially since many of these prisoners are really criminals, and have committed horrendous crimes.

But I hope the peace last.

and also...

will this cease-fire work because the Palestinian militants will probably break this cease-fire...

i mean, can they really be controlled???

rapier28

posted on Mar, 17 2005 @ 10:09 PM

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Well, the World doesn't really have a choice on the matter.

It's not like we can say "hey, don't think that's gonna work, let's try something else".

All we can do is pray and hope.

malcr

posted on Mar, 18 2005 @ 04:45 AM

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The israelis know fine well that the Palestinian leadership cannot control all the factions. They'll be hoping that one of these factions does something stupid so that they can then claim the ceasefire is over and resume their oppressive tactics and pursue a policy of total control over the Palestinians.

subz

posted on Mar, 18 2005 @ 05:54 AM

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Ceasefires in these situations have worked throughout the world and I dont see a reason why this cant be the case here.

Even when splinter factions occur that are hellbent on disrupting ceasefires (e.g. Real IRA) you still see the peace process moving forward. Splinter factions have the potential for giving both sides a common enemy and standing point. The splinter factions would give the Israelis cause to condemn them because they pose a threat. The Palestinian militants would condemn them as they are, pardon the pun, hijacking their cause.

Divide and conquer

Its not necessarily unworkable by any means.

[edit on 18/3/05 by subz]

rapier28

posted on Mar, 18 2005 @ 06:02 AM

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Yep, once the groups start getting towards a political settlement, then they will thinking twice about violence.

The reason is that now they have something to lose (political power), as opposed to before.

Crakeur

posted on Mar, 18 2005 @ 06:27 AM

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Originally posted by malcr
The israelis know fine well that the Palestinian leadership cannot control all the factions. They'll be hoping that one of these factions does something stupid so that they can then claim the ceasefire is over and resume their oppressive tactics and pursue a policy of total control over the Palestinians.

note that you said resume their tactics. You are admitting that Israel is willing to try and work this out peacefully. Doesn't seem like opressive tactics and total control policy if they are willing to attempt a ceasefire. It's the palestinians that cannot stop the violence.

subz

posted on Mar, 18 2005 @ 12:38 PM

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Well it didnt take long to come about but we've got a renegade group of Palestinians that apparently were not invited to the negotions. The Popular Resistance Commitee claims it will not honour this ceasefire.

Whole News Story

subz

posted on Mar, 18 2005 @ 12:40 PM

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Double post sorry
Double post sorry

[edit on 18/3/05 by subz]