The Olmert administration, under American pressure, has radically changed its policy of not recognizing Hamas and is involved with indirect ceasefire negotiations through Egyptian mediators. American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during her visit to the region earlier this month, dispatched envoy David Welch to Egypt ostensibly to discuss the situation of Arabs in Gaza. She did not deny that Welch also might be involved in negotiating with Hamas via Egypt. The United States officially has termed Hamas an outlawed terrorist organization.
Amos Gilad, a senior aide to Defense Minister Ehud Barak, traveled to Cairo Tuesday for the second time this week to speak with Egyptian officials. Hamas wants the Rafiah crossing re-opened, but Israel has opposed removing all restrictions because of constant smuggling of weapons. Egypt has warned Israel not to damage relations with Egypt by making incursions into Gaza.
Welch told Gilad that Israel "must accelerate the dialogue with [Egypt] in order to end the crisis" and that Egypt is "more willing than ever before to find a joint solution to their problem with Israel." The U.S. also backs adding more Egyptian soldiers along the border with Gaza, a move that would violate the Israel-Egyptian peace treaty signed almost 30 years ago.