Israel and Hamas reach a cease-fire
Clinton calls agreement a 'critical moment for the region'
Advertisements
November 21, 2012
JERUSALEM -- A cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is set to begin at 9 p.m. local time.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr announced the agreement Wednesday evening in Cairo. It will go into effect at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Prior to the announcement, President Obama spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accepted Obama's recommendation to give the Egyptian cease-fire proposal a chance to work.
Obama reiterated his commitment to Israel's security and made clear that no country can be expected to tolerate rocket attacks against civilians, according to the White House. He also commended Netanyahu for agreeing to the Egyptian cease-fire proposal while reiterating that Israel maintains the right to defend itself. Obama told Netanyahu that he was committed to seeking additional funding for Iron Dome and other U.S.-Israel missile defense programs.
Clinton called the cease-fire agreement a "critical moment for the region," and praised Egypt for its leadership on the agreement. She said the next steps include moving toward a comprehensive peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Minutes after the announcement, five rockets were fired from Gaza at Beersheva; one struck a home there, according to Israel's Channel 1.
Five Israelis and more than 140 Palestinians have been reported killed since Israel launched Operation Pillar of Defense on Nov. 14 with the assassination of Hamas military chief Ahmed Jabari. The assassination followed several days of intense rocket bombardment on southern Israel, and Hamas stepped up its rocket fire against Israel after the operation began. Hamas missiles have reached as far as the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv areas nearly 50 miles away. On Wednesday, terrorists detonated a bomb aboard a bus in central Tel Aviv, wounding 21 people.
Nearly 1,500 rockets have been fired at Gaza toward Israel since the beginning of the operation; some of those fell in Gazan territory. Some 421 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
Comments
RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG
November 21, 2012
SOMETHING DOES NOT SMELL RIGHT ABOUT THIS TRUCE. RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG, PRESIDENT ISRAEL ADVOCACY TASK FORCE
RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG
November 21, 2012
Understanding Regarding Ceasefire in Gaza Strip RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG, PRESIDENT ISRAEL ADVOCACY TASK FORCE SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN FISH AND THIS WILL NEVER LAST.
1. a. Israel should stop all hostilities in the Gaza Strip land, sea and air
including incursions and targeting of individuals.
b. All Palestinian factions shall stop all hostilities from the Gaza Strip
against Israel including rocket attacks and all attacks along the border.
c. Opening the crossings and facilitating the movements of people and
transfer of goods and refraining from restricting residents� free movements
and targeting residents in border areas and procedures of implementation
shall be dealt with after 24 hours from the start of the ceasefire.
d. Other matters as may be requested shall be addressed.
2. Implementation Mechanism:
a. Setting up the zero hour for the ceasefire understanding to enter into
effect.
b. Egypt shall receive assurances from each party that the party commits to
what was agreed upon.
c. Each party shall commit itself not to perform any acts that would breach
this understanding. In case of any observations Egypt as the sponsor of this
understanding shall be informed to follow up.