Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 9/08 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 22. April – 3. Mai 2008 1. Waffenstillstand in Gaza? 12 palästinensische Gruppierungen, darunter Fatah, Hamas und Islamic Jihad, haben sich in Ägypten für einen Waffenstillstand im Gazastreifen ausge­sprochen. Ägyptische Verhandlungsführer hatten separat mit den unterschiedlichen Fraktionen verhandelt und schließlich von allen die Zustimmung zu einem Waffenstillstandsabkommen erhalten, das eine Waffenruhe im Gegenzug zur Öffnung der Grenzübergänge des Gazastreifens vorsieht. Nachdem die Waffen in Gaza ruhen, soll der Waffenstillstand in einem zweiten Schritt auch im Westjordanland implementiert werden. Die israelische Regierung hat sich bisher nicht zu dem ägyptischen Vorschlag, der auf dem Grenzübergangsabkommen zwischen Israel und der Palästinensischen Autonomiebehörde von 2005 basiert, geäußert. Zwar haben Regierungsvertreter verlautbaren lassen, dass auf‘Ruhe mit Ruhe’ geantwortet werde, andererseits gibt es jedoch Sorge, dass ein Waffenstillstand die Hamas stärken und Präsident Mahmud Abbas weiter schwächen werde. Medienangaben zufolge wird der ägyptische Geheimdienstchef Omar Suleiman in Kürze in Israel erwartet, um die offizielle Reaktion auf das Waffenstillstandsangebot entgegenzunehmen. Instead of doing nothing “[E]ven if not all the Palestinian factions, squads and terror cells join the cease-fire, there is great importance in that Hamas, as the entity controlling the Strip, would be bound by it. It is important because the cease-fire entails Israeli agreement to allow the reopening of the Rafah crossing and thus to restore life in the Strip to a reasonable and tolerable level. That is an essential interest of Hamas, which seeks to prove that it can function as a responsible government for its citizens, and it may be expected to enforce the cease-fire on the other groups as well.[…] No less important is the facilitation of a period of quiet for the people of Sderot and the western Negev.[…] The creation of an opportunity for calm and for continuing the negotiations without violent interruptions obligates Israel to respond positively to the cease-fire proposal.[…] This is not the ideal out­come of the war of attrition underway now for years along the border, but those who drag their feet in peace talks must make do with a fragile cease-fire.” HAA 27.04.08 Hamas hasn’t changed “What motivated Hamas to rush to declare that a lull agreement was closer than ever is its claim that Amos Gilad confirmed that Israel agreed to a deal that is mutual, bilateral, and comprehensive. Hamas understands this to mean the lifting of the siege imposed on the Strip, the opening of the crossings to anyone, and an end to targeted killings. Does the agreement also include an end to Qassam fire by Hamas’ subsidiaries? Not for sure.[…] As it turns out, not only is the distress faced by Gaza residents worsening, but also the distress of Hamas heads in the Strip. The economic siege is indeed taking its toll, the public is impatient and conveys dissatisfaction with its leaders, yet Hamas heads are the ones who need the lull more than anyone.[…] The ceasefire’s purpose is to prepare for the continuation of the struggle and boost the capabilities of the fighters.” Moshe Elad, JED 25.04.08 Border games “If Israel rejects Hamas’ terms for a cease-fire, then Cairo will consider unilaterally opening its border with besieged Gaza Strip.[…] Opening the border between Gaza and Egypt will allow Hamas to reestablish its standing in Gaza. In addition, it will also create a new balance of power in the region. Such a balance may not necessary work against 1