Hamas calls for truce

A spokesman for the Hamas terrorist organization has stated that the group is now seeking a long term truce with Israel, in return for a removal of restrictions on the populace of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has reportedly asked Israel to open the crossings, end the targeting of Palestinian terrorists and ease of the economic embargo. But Israeli government officials remain skeptical of the offer from Hamas, believing it to be a ploy to buy time for rearming and reorganizing for a new offensive against Israel. 

Quote: "The Arabic word Awad used, hudna, denotes a temporary cease-fire rather than a permanent peace. Hamas does not recognize Israel's right to exist and is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the U.S. and EU. Spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office David Baker accused Hamas of trying to buy time. "We've seen Hamas and other terror organizations use these calls for a cease-fire as a mere ploy in order to allow them to rearm, regroup and reorganize," Baker said. "Israel will continue to take the necessary steps to defend its citizens and will not sit idly by while these terrorist organizations continue to actively plan and eventually perpetrate terror attacks against us."

It was reported recently that the Hamas terrorist organization may be seeking to perpetrate an attack against Israel, in order to hamper the prospects of a peace deal being agreed in the November peace conference. Personally I don't think Ismael Haniyeh would be that stupid, and I think that is why Hamas is now seeking a temporary calm with Israel. Hamas knows that if the international peace conference in November is a success, that spells the end of the terror government in Gaza. Perpetrating a major terrorist attack before the conference is held could have the opposite effect, making Olmert and Abbas more determined to make peace and to exclude Hamas from benefiting from it. If Hamas prevents any major escalation from occurring in the coming months, they may be able to convince Abbas to let them govern Gaza. On the other hand, it seems President Abbas is the one who is hardening his stance, perhaps over fears that Palestinians loyal to Hamas will feel he has sold them out when he fails to achieve anything less that the end of Israeli "occupation" in Gaza, Judea and Samaria. That may be why Abbas has once again called for the Israeli disengagement from all territories captured during the Six Day War.

Quote: "The official also said that the groups advising Abbas, particularly the Negotiations Support Unit (NSU) headed by Saeb Erekat and composed of Palestinian and other Arab legal experts born or educated in the U.S. or Europe, are hardening their stances ahead of the conference. Israel sees the NSU as a "diplomatic elite unit" responsible for the opinion handed down by the International Court of Justice in The Hague that the separation fence violates international law. A senior official said the NSU is presenting Abbas with position papers demanding a schedule for progress following November's regional conference in Washington. The NSU also opposes dividing Jerusalem based on demographic considerations and insists on a division based on the 1967 borders. "This is a non-starter" the official said. However, Abbas told U.S. media outlets recently that the Palestinian Authority would not agree to the Clinton plan ceding to it 92 percent of the West Bank and would insist on full Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 lines.

In any case Hamas has said before that any temporary calm agreed with Israel is just a stage in their campaign for the destruction of the Jewish state. Israel cannot afford to have Hamas in any sort of government period. The Bible states that an agreement will be signed by Israel and the surrounding nations for a seven year period, in the midst of which the land of Israel will be divided to pave the way for a Palestinian state. Whether this is sanctioned by the Israeli government or not, I cannot tell. It certainly seems this present government is willing, and would be capable of expelling hundreds of thousands of Jews from their homes in order to make peace with their enemies. The Bible states the Antichrist will divide the land for gain (Daniel 11:39). The city of Jerusalem will also be divided, and east Jerusalem will be given to to the Arabs until the end of the tribulation period. During this time the Antichrist will persecute the believing Jews...

Isaiah 62:11 
Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

Daniel 8:24
And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

Revelation 12:17 
And the dragon was wroth with the woman (Israel), and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

...whether this conference bears any fruit or not, I don't know. But I do know progress is being made towards a peace agreement, which brings the prospect of the fulfilment of end time prophecy ever closer.

Joel 2:1
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

Source Haaretz, Haaretz