Crucial talks on long-term truce are extended
The chief Palestinian delegate to truce talks with Israel warned on Tuesday that Gaza violence could erupt anew unless progress is made toward a lasting deal ahead of a midnight deadline in Egyptian-brokered talks.
After a last-minute agreement was struck to extend by 24 hours a deadline to reach a truce, Azzam al-Ahmad, senior leader of President Mahmoud Abbas's mainstream Fatah movement, said there had been "no progress on any point" in talks aimed at resolving the Gaza conflict.
"We hope that every minute of the coming 24 hours will be used to reach an agreement, and if not (successful), the circle of violence will continue," Ahmad said.
He accused Israel of "maneuvering and stalling" as gaps on key issues continued to dog efforts to achieve a long-term deal between Israel and militant groups in the Gaza Strip, dominated by Hamas Islamists, which would allow reconstruction aid to flow in after five weeks of fighting.
An Israeli government official said Israeli delegates were still in Cairo poring over details of a possible deal, although the parties had not yet agreed a draft.
"The Israeli delegation has been instructed to insist on security requirements. The moment there is an agreement, the Cabinet will be called for discussions," said the official, who asked not to be identified.
Although the back-to-back truce agreements have brought relief to millions on both sides of the border, the drawn-out waiting and the fear of a resumption of fighting was beginning to test people's patience.
"No one here has any hope," said Riyad Abul Sultan, a father of 10 with thick curly hair, smoking as he sits on a flimsy mattress at a UN school in Gaza.
"Maybe they'll finish the war for two hours, maybe Israel will start bombing again."
Senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk accused Israel of stalling and insisted in a post on his Twitter account that his group "will never cede any" demands for a comprehensive deal.
A senior Palestinian official in Gaza said sticking points to an agreement were Hamas' demands to build a seaport and an airport, which Israel wants to discuss only at a later stage.
Israel, which launched its offensive on July 8 after a surge in Hamas rocket fire across the border, has shown scant interest in making sweeping concessions, and has called for the disarming of militant groups in the enclave of 1.8 million people.
Hamas has said that laying down its weapons is not an option.
Hamas also insists that Israel free Palestinian prisoners, while Israel wants Hamas to hand over the remains of two soldiers killed during the fighting.
Israel has signaled agreement to open Gaza crossings, which would ease a blockade of the coastal territory and allow for a freer flow of goods, and to extend maritime limits in the Mediterranean Sea.
Israel made clear before the earlier truce lapsed that it would continue to hold its fire as long as Palestinians did the same.
Reuters - AP
(China Daily 08/20/2014 page11)
