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Israel rejects Egypt’s proposed truce with Hamas
By ICEJ News
12 May 2008
Israeli Prime Minister hosted Egypt’s Chief of Intelligence Omar Suleiman on Monday and informed him that he could not accept Cairo’s proposed truce with Hamas because it does not include the cessation of weapons smuggling from Sinai into Gaza and the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit. During an earlier meeting with Suleiman, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak concurred that “Israel considers the release of Gilad Schalit a central component of stabilizing the situation in the Gaza Strip.” Barak also stressed that the IDF will have no other choice but to carry out a massive operation in Gaza if the Kassam rocket attacks on southern Israel do not stop. A senior Hamas official accused Barak of 'trying to prove he is a bigger hero than his predecessors,' and added Israel will end up 'counting casualties' if it does not accept deal. Army Radio cited a senior Israeli official as saying on Monday that negotiations for Schalit’s release have been frozen for months but a cease-fire with Hamas is “an opportunity” to advance his release.
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