CAIRO, June 19 (Chinese media) -- Under the Egyptian sponsorship, the truce agreement between Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement and Israel on Thursday came to effect in Gaza Strip for the first day, raising hopes for a chance to realize peace in the Middle East despite of deep doubts on the duration of the so-called lull or calm.
CHANCE TO REALIZE MIDEAST
PEACE
For the first time in years, the Palestinian and
Israeli sides reach a truce agreement that includes a cessation of violence in
the first week and holding negotiations on release of Palestinian prisoners in
the second week to be followed by a gradual lifting of siege on Gaza Strip and
negotiations over release of Israeli captive Gilad Shalit, Egypt's al-Ahram
daily said in its editorial on Thursday.
The truce agreement takes the Mideast peace process
to a new stage away from killings, violence, tension and mutual accusations
traded by Palestinian and Israeli sides, proving that there is a chance to
realize peace in the Middle East if Israel was convinced that in order to live
in peace, the Palestinians have to live in peace too, the daily noted.
In its editorial, Al-Gomhuria termed reaching a truce
agreement as a far-fetched hope given the wide gaps between Palestinian and
Israeli stances, hailing Egypt's success to bridge the gap between a side
seeking restoration of its usurped rights and another planning for more
settlement expansions.
The daily called on Israel to understand that they
cannot impose peace by force on Palestinians no matter how savage the Israeli
military vehicle was.
Just peace is possible only if Israel was committed
to a new policy based on a comprehensive lull in Gaza Strip and West Bank, an
end of provocative settlement activities and the release of Palestinian
prisoners, it added.
DOUBTS ON TRUCE DURATION
The Egyptian-brokered truce started at 6 a.m. local
time (0300 GMT) Thursday in Gaza after another day of cross-border violence.
On Thursday morning, Ezz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades,
the armed wing of Hamas, issued a statement announcing its commitment to the
ceasefire which comes as a result of months of indirect talks between Hamas and
Israel, mediated by Egypt.
The six-month ceasefire is expected to halt Israeli
attacks into Gaza and ease the blockade which Israel imposed on Gaza Strip when
Hamas took over the territory by force a year ago. During the Gaza fighting,
Hamas routed security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas and ousted his
Fatah movement.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said
Wednesday that the imminent calm in Gaza Strip is temporary and may be
short-lived, hours after Israel officially confirmed agreement to an
Egypt-brokered truce with Gaza militants.
For its part, Hamas's armed wing said in a statement
published just as the ceasefire began, that it is "fully ready to launch a
military strike that would shake the Zionist entity if they did not abide by all
the items of the calm".
CONTINUING PEACE
EFFORTS
While each side has expressed skepticism over the
duration of the truce and the lull was seen as "the quiet before the storm",
mediation efforts for peace are continuing.
Olmert was scheduled to visit Cairo next Tuesday for
a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth
reported Thursday on its website.
The two are expected to discuss different regional
issues including negotiations with the Palestinians and the ceasefire in Gaza
Strip, said the report.
After the announcement of the truce with Israel for
Gaza Strip starting on Thursday, Hamas said on Tuesday that it would respect the
deal but stressed the Egyptian-mediated negotiations had not yet been concluded,
describing the discussions in Cairo as positive.
Egypt has mediated a truce between Israel and Gaza
militant groups for months by which Israel would ease the blockade imposed on
Gaza and stop military offensive into Gaza for ending rocket attacks on Israel.
Special report:
Palestine-Israel
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