As an asside, not the purpose of the Topic, is this a true representation by the media: "Under the deal, Israel has agreed to end all hostilities and targeted killings, while all Palestinian factions will have to stop firing rockets into Israel and staging border attacks." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20439967 ****** Dear Sheikh Yassin, We are writing to you regarding continued attacks against civilians for which the Islamic Resistance Movement (harakat al-muqawama al-islamiyya, Hamas) has claimed responsibility. We are aware of remarks by you and by other leading Hamas figures, including Dr. Abd al-Aziz al-Rantissi and Dr. Mahmoud Zahar, endorsing such attacks. http://www.hrw.org/press/2002/08/hamasltr080602.htm "Article Thirty-Six: The Hamas are Soldiers" http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/www.thejerusalemfund.org/carryover/documents/charter.html Strongly condemns the continuing grave violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular the tragic assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin on 22 March 2004, in contravention of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949; http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/22...67606dfc79a1964e85256e62005bcd57!OpenDocument SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY CONDEMNS ISRAELS ASSASSINATION OF HAMAS LEADER, WHICH RESULTED IN DEATHS OF EIGHT OTHERS The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi: The Secretary-General strongly condemns Israels assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, which resulted in the deaths of eight others. He is concerned that such an action would lead to further bloodshed and death and acts of revenge and retaliation. He reiterates that extrajudicial killings are against international law and calls on the Government of Israel to immediately end this practice. The only way to halt an escalation in the violence is for the parties to work towards a viable negotiating process aimed at a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement. http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sgsm9210.doc.htm ****** "Agreement of Understanding For a Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip 1: (no title given for this section) 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 mechanisms: 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." http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=540830 ****** "President Obama would also seek 'additional funding for Iron Dome and other US-Israel missile defense programs.'" http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/20...om-obama-to-seek-more-defense-aid-for-israel/ "The president also spoke to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi and 'thanked him for his efforts to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and for his personal leadership in negotiating a ceasefire proposal.' http://dawn.com/2012/11/22/obama-praises-morsi-netanyahu-for-ceasefire/ "The UN Security Council has called on Israel and Hamas to uphold the agreement, brokered by Egypt." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20439967 ******* Has the cease-fire basically accomplished the following stereotype, rule of law, and elevation of Muslim Brotherhood: Greedy Jews bribed to stop targeting of civilians, Hamas wins concessions along it's borders along with the protection that extrajudicial killing of terrorist leaders is wrong, and the Muslim Brotherhood is praised and elevated to peace broker?
You could be right, but don't be surprised if the reality of this interaction is altogether different than what you have proposed. These treaties and ceasefires and the very nature of this exercise...it really doesn't add up to me. It doesn't make sense- the instigation, the retaliation, and the seemingly abrupt ceasefire agreed to so quickly if incursion of the type involving missiles fired into one's homeland is to be believed.
I will try not to be too surprised. Without other wording, it seems to be a rather stupid cease-fire agreement that Israel has agreed to. As in what "transfer of goods" are they talking about, are arms excluded? And "All Palestinian factions shall stop all hostilities from the Gaza Strip against Israel including rocket attacks and all attacks along the border" is limited to Palestinians? So it appears to be a godsend to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood... With the "targeting of individuals" provision, not specifying that no attacks come from Gaza by other than Palestinians, the agreement as worded seems a leaky as a soaker hose. If Israel cannot target anyone in Gaza at all, it seems destined to be a cease-fire that is not meant to "work towards a viable negotiating process aimed at a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement," which the United Nations (of tyrants too) claimed the extrajudicial killings of Hamas leaders was hindering, but as a means to rearm Hamas, protect their leaders and all others in Gaza (as a safe harbor for all stripes of terrorists), and give greater probability that Israel will be forced to be the first to be seen as breaking the cease-fire. I must point out that Israel blamed Bush for their being a paper tiger previously: “JERUSALEM — Israel has dropped its campaign to ban the violent Islamic Hamas from Palestinian parliamentary elections, a senior official said Sunday, acknowledging defeat after President Bush pointedly skipped repeating the demand in a public appearance with the Palestinian leader last week. “ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,173153,00.html Israel certainly had a motive for ignoring Bush and Rice, and becoming a paper tiger after one incident: “DUBLIN, Ireland -- Former President Jimmy Carter accused the U.S., Israel and the European Union on Tuesday of seeking to divide the Palestinian people by reopening aid to President Mahmoud Abbas' new government in the West Bank while denying the same to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Carter, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who was addressing a human rights conference in Ireland, also said the Bush administration's refusal to accept Hamas' 2006 election victory was ‘criminal.’" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/20/AR2007062000233.html Now Israel is accepting aid and goods (to be determined?) to the Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and Israel is accepting Hamas. So really, "It doesn't make sense."
