The Egyptian Press Agency reported yesterday that Egypt and the Palestinian Authority have made progress on an agreement involving a cessation of hostilities. The PA would put an end to attacks on Israel, according to the agreement – something which it has not succeeded in doing in several years – while Israel would agree to stop anti-terror military activities.
The PA denies the reports, while Israel says, "A PA-Hamas ceasefire is an internal PA affair... If they're quiet, we're quiet." Israeli sources made sure to add, as always, that "ticking time bombs," i.e., immediate terror threats against Israel, will be dealt with appropriately.
Israeli sources, quoted by the Ynet Hebrew news site, said that the PA's steps against terrorism, which have not yet begun, will take time.
The Egyptian news agency also hinted that an international summit could take place this summer, and that Egypt's ambassador may soon return to Israel. He was recalled from Tel Aviv four years ago, after the outbreak of the Oslo War.
MK Modi Zandberg, a right-leaning MK in the left-wing Shinui Party, said that the understandings between Israel and the PA, if they exist, signal the beginning of negotiations, "and this arouses doubts as to the need for a unilateral disengagement. The Prime Minister must therefore clarify if there is anything to these reports."
Likud MK Yuval Shteinitz, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, who has long been critical and suspicious of Egyptian intentions, said today, "I am happy about the warming-up of relations between Israel and Egypt, but we need to see changes far and beyond gestures and mediation. Even the return of the ambassador is just a gesture. More important is the issue of arms smuggling across the border; they must make sure that the thousands of rifles and the like don't even get into Sinai, from where they are then smuggled into Israel. In addition, the incitement on Egyptian media against Israel, and even against Jews, is very sharp, and must be diminished. Thirdly, Egypt is arming itself very strongly, and this is of great concern."
The PA denies the reports, while Israel says, "A PA-Hamas ceasefire is an internal PA affair... If they're quiet, we're quiet." Israeli sources made sure to add, as always, that "ticking time bombs," i.e., immediate terror threats against Israel, will be dealt with appropriately.
Israeli sources, quoted by the Ynet Hebrew news site, said that the PA's steps against terrorism, which have not yet begun, will take time.
The Egyptian news agency also hinted that an international summit could take place this summer, and that Egypt's ambassador may soon return to Israel. He was recalled from Tel Aviv four years ago, after the outbreak of the Oslo War.
MK Modi Zandberg, a right-leaning MK in the left-wing Shinui Party, said that the understandings between Israel and the PA, if they exist, signal the beginning of negotiations, "and this arouses doubts as to the need for a unilateral disengagement. The Prime Minister must therefore clarify if there is anything to these reports."
Likud MK Yuval Shteinitz, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, who has long been critical and suspicious of Egyptian intentions, said today, "I am happy about the warming-up of relations between Israel and Egypt, but we need to see changes far and beyond gestures and mediation. Even the return of the ambassador is just a gesture. More important is the issue of arms smuggling across the border; they must make sure that the thousands of rifles and the like don't even get into Sinai, from where they are then smuggled into Israel. In addition, the incitement on Egyptian media against Israel, and even against Jews, is very sharp, and must be diminished. Thirdly, Egypt is arming itself very strongly, and this is of great concern."