Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arrived this afternoon (Wednesday) in Amman for a previously unannounced luncheon visit with King Abdullah of Jordan. The king invited Olmert in order express his concern that Israeli-Syrian peace contacts might distract Israel from the Israel-PA track.
The Arabic TV channel Al-Jazeera reported that Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia - among the countries known as "moderate" in the Arab world - are concerned that the apparent progress in contacts between Israel and Syria might come at the expense of negotiations between Israel and the PA.
Abbas Reports Failure in Washington
Strengthening the suspicion that the Israeli-PA track is stalled, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas announced this week that his visit in Washington last week had failed to signal any progress towards a final peace agreement with Israel.
Terrorists Talk Ceasefire, Shoot Rockets
On the Gazan front, 12 Moslem terrorist factions announced Wednesday afternoon that they would agree to a type of ceasefire agreement with Israel - while no fewer than five Kassam rockets were fired at Israel after this announcement was made, bringing the total for Wednesday to at least 12. One rocket landed between two homes in a moshav between Gaza and Ashkelon, sending a woman and her baby to the hospital to be treated for shock. Another rocket landed on a hill near Sderot, causing a fire but no damage.
Public Security Minister Avi Dichter (Kadima), a former General Security Service chief, has come out against a ceasefire deal with Hamas. He says that now is the time to increase efforts to target and kill leading terrorists.
Dichter further said that Israel need not avail itself of Egyptian peace offers while Egypt continues to allow weapon-smuggling into Gaza.
Despite this, reports are that Olmert is seriously considering the ceasefire offer, which was brokered by Egypt. Israel demands, however, that Egypt ensure that Hamas not use the duration of the ceasefire to strengthen itself militarily.
Though it is not clear how Egypt can guarantee such a thing, Israel's interest in a ceasefire is not only relief for the besieged Negev residents, but also that it could mean progress towards freedom for captive soldier Gilad Shalit.