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Last update - 21:39 20/04/2008 Report: Hamas rejects Egyptian plan for truce with Israel By Haaretz Service and Reuters Tags: Palestinians, Israel, Hamas  Hamas spokesman Sami Abu-Zuhri on Sunday rejected an Egyptian plan for a cease-fire agreement with Israel, Al Jazeera reported. On Friday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit unveiled an Egyptian plan to restore calm in the region. The plan seeks to establish a ceasefire under which the firing of rockets in Gaza Strip has to stop while Israel also stops targeting Palestinians. O Advertisement ther provisions include exchanging 400 Palestinian prisoners currently held in Israeli jails for captive Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped by Hamas in 2006. Egypt's plan also includes the opening of Gaza's border crossings and to put a peace agreement, if reached this year, to a Palestinian public vote. "The idea of a referendum on any agreement signed with the occupying [Israeli authorities] is rejected by the Hamas movement," Sami Abu Zuhri was quoted by the Qatar-based television network as saying. "No poll on the basic rights [of Palestinian people]. Is it possible for us to carry out a poll on al-Quds [Jerusalem] if such an agreement affects our rights in al-Quds?" he asked. Abu Zuhri also rejected as "unacceptable" remarks by Aboul Gheit, who reportedly said Hamas' participation in a Palestinian national unity government with rival faction Fatah could thwart efforts to reach a peace settlement with Israel. These comments came as the death toll in Israel Air Force airstrikes in the Gaza Strip climbed to at least six dead Palestinians since Saturday. On Friday, the Egyptian foreign minister said that Egypt was making "good progress" in efforts to negotiate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Aboul Gheit said his government was speaking with both sides to get a "period of quiet," which would help Israeli and Palestinian negotiators achieve a deal more easily in U.S.-mediated Palestinian statehood talks that exclude Hamas. "Hamas wants to call it a period of quiet. That suits the Israelis because they do not want to reach a signed, written agreement with Hamas," Gheit said of Egypt's mediation attempts in a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington on Friday. "We are making good progress [mediating] but the difficulty we face is that often, certain trends inside Israel challenge the idea and certain trends inside Gaza challenge the idea and maybe, maybe there could also be a foreign element," he said with a smile, referring to the United States. Israel and the United States both classify Hamas as a terrorist organization and shun contacts with it, although Washington has quietly given a nod for Egypt to negotiate with the Islamist group to end violence that threatens the statehood talks. The peace talks only involve Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Olmert. Gheit said if they reached a deal, which Washington wants by the end of the Bush administration's term in January 2009, then Hamas would be under pressure to accept it. Related articles: At least 6 Gaza militants killed in IAF airstrikes Qassam hits power lines in Sderot causing blackout Carter meets Hamas leader, Syrian President in Damascus Egypt brokering Hamas-Israel deal on long-term Gaza truce ANALYSIS: Unofficial Gaza cease-fire benefits everybody Bookmark to del.icio.us   Passover in Damascus Syria's 100 remaining Jews say they feel free to celebrate Passover openly. Shanghai surprise A Jewish couple in Shanghai weds inside a synagogue for the first time since WWII.   1.   Return Gaza to the Palestinian Authority NO TALKS WITH HAMAS!!!!! 20:58  |  MOE 20/04/08   2.   Barak? Hello? 20:59  |  MR 20/04/08   3.   Egypt Budd out. You failed at all Fatah-Hamas truces in the past! 21:00  |  ALI* 20/04/08   4.   Free Palestine! 21:01  |  ~Mohammed~ 20/04/08   5.   Now we see who really wants peace and who doesn`t 21:10  |  Conroy 20/04/08   6.   so much for all illusions about hamas` coming out of the zoo - 21:13  |  ivo 20/04/08   7.   It sounds like Hamas rejected the best... 21:18  |  Mikey 20/04/08   8.   Question for Hamas. Does Hamas represent all Palestinians? 21:26  |  El-Birawi 20/04/08   9.   HOW MUCH MORE DO WE NEED TO KNOW??? 21:35  |  Brant 20/04/08   10.   kind of democracies carter loves. one vote, one man, one time. 21:41  |  ralph 20/04/08   11.   Hamas 22:24  |  H 20/04/08   12.   Very well then, the only remaining alternative is to raze Gaza! 22:49  |  Genuine Tosefta 20/04/08   13.   Very well then, the only remaining alternative is to raze Gaza! 22:50  |  Genuine Tosefta 20/04/08   14.   Very well then, the only remaining alternative is to raze Gaza! 22:50  |  Genuine Tosefta 20/04/08   15.   Hey, Jimmeh, did you read what your kissing buddies said? 22:52  |  McQueen 20/04/08   16.   Fact: Hamas rejects peace with Israel 23:07  |  Joe Sittizen 20/04/08   17.   Who really wants what?? 23:07  |  George W. Bush 20/04/08   18.   # 3 ALI*....good choice!! 23:08  |  Lynn 20/04/08   19.   Who really wants what?? Part2 23:10  |  George W Bush 20/04/08   20.   Why does the truce have to be linked to Gilad Shalit....???? 23:11  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/04/08   21.   its about Al Quds and other internation law that hamas 23:13  |  hello 20/04/08   22.   To Mohammed # 4 - What OCCUPIED Palestinian Land??? 23:17  |  Dagma 20/04/08   23.   Hamas is a radical Islamist group 23:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/04/08   24.   DINO:CAN YOU READ IF YOU`RE "NEUTRAL" 23:29  |  Brant 20/04/08   25.   Dino #13: it`s not a relevant point, Dino - 23:35  |  ivo 20/04/08   26.   Only 400 to ONE? Israelis worth more than that 23:46  |  x-ray 20/04/08   27.   Playing the part of Sally Stuthers tonight is: 23:50  |  PlanoStu 20/04/08   28.   "the idea of a referandum...is rejected by...Hamas" 23:55  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/04/08   29.   Brant? you obviously know nothing and dont want to 00:04  |  you idiot 21/04/08   30.   Swiss (Dino) # 16 That Doesn`t Appear To Be The Reason 00:12  |  Jeff Northridge 21/04/08   31.   Poll position 00:12  |  Oddvark 21/04/08   32.   #18 Dagma knows something the IHCJ does not 00:15  |  Labhras 21/04/08   33.   Question, Who represents the Palestinians? 00:18  |  El-Birawi 21/04/08   34.   so much for hamas` democr. credentials: where art thou m. lincoln 00:23  |  ivo 21/04/08   35.   # 5 Conroy--- Hamas did the right thing. 00:40  |  Bobby 21/04/08   36.   the "LOGIC" is "naqba mentality", George. 00:40  |  Akiva P 21/04/08   37.   hello # 17 Hello? Is Anybody Home? 00:42  |  Jeff Northridge 21/04/08   38.   Save your self the trouble... 01:11  |  Webster 21/04/08   39.   ALI*: an international force will never come - 01:12  |  ivo 21/04/08   40.   Are You Ready For a Whuppin Mohammad 01:25  |  Dave Levy 21/04/08   41.   12 Joe, Israel`s rejection of peace proposals for the last 40yrs 01:38  |  Dutch 21/04/08   42.   Dagma? even ariak sharon used the word occupation 03:06  |  dont be stupid 21/04/08   43.   dave lkevy thumping her kosher cheast again 03:10  |  get over yourself 21/04/08   44.   # 17 Hello, Sorry to disappoint you - there is no right to return 04:23  |  17 21/04/08   45.   #33,you yourself, you have never won a war 04:51  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/04/08   46.   wrong again as usual `17` the dunce 04:54  |  UN 21/04/08   47.   here yah go `17` the inbred dunce 04:56  |  UN 21/04/08   48.   #1 Moe. Israel must retake Gaza to end the problems. 04:58  |  Chaim 21/04/08   49.   To #4 Mohammed 05:08  |  Israeli 21/04/08   50.   Hamas did Israel a big favour by rejecting truce. 05:34  |  Chaim 21/04/08   51.   Fortunately, Dutch`s Dishonesty Obvious 05:46  |  JP 21/04/08   52.   Hamas claims to represent the Palestinians 05:58  |  Daniel Leopold 21/04/08

Read & React Editorial: Israel can't demolish all of Gaza Responses: 364 IDF troops do nothing as Hebron settlers threaten German MPs Responses: 353 Carter meets Hamas leader, sets out plans for Israel-Hamas truce Responses: 343 Barak: Hamas will pay for attack on Gaza crossing Responses: 458 Rosner's Domain The Passover test and The Passion of Passover Just say no to Carter Poll: What is Carter doing in the Middle East? Let the debate begin: what's a "pro-Israeli" position? Clinton: Massive retaliation if Israel attacked (WTR) More Headlines 03:29 Israel to tighten controls at Gaza crossings in wake of attacks 04:03 Analysis / Keeping Gaza quiet until Independence Day 06:00 Assad confirms trading messages with Israel 04:53 Researchers: We know the secret of Joseph's biblical pest control 05:27 Israeli Arab students take to the fields to learn green activism 05:55 Legendary actor, director, and teacher Nissan Nativ dies at 86 04:09 Water Authority: Drought years threaten drinking water supplies 06:21 Hilton to open Waldorf-Astoria luxury hotel in Jerusalem 01:50 Obama slams Bush, former pres. Clinton's mideast diplomacy 06:25 Abbas says will discuss peace agreement with Bush Tuesday Previous Editions Select Day 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr

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