Excerpt from Israel, Hamas, Palestinian Authority to Meet for Talks
Egypt’s United Nation’s envoy says Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority will meet Thursday for talks.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was at U.N. headquarters for the council’s emergency session on Gaza, said she had talked with both the Israelis and Arab envoys about the importance of moving forward a cease-fire proposed Tuesday by Egypt and France.
“We are very much applauding the efforts of a number of states, particularly the effort that President (Hosni) Mubarak has undertaken on behalf of Egypt,” Rice said. “We’re supporting that initiative.”
Israel hammered Gaza City with gunfire and air strikes Wednesday minutes after a three-hour cease-fire ended, and its security cabinet voted to push ahead with the ground offensive against Hamas, the Times of London reported.
Israel agreed to principles of the Gaza cease-fire proposal, but has yet to iron out key details about how it would be implemented, senior Israeli officials told Reuters.
The proposal calls for an end to fighting as well as a drive to prevent Hamas militants from rearming, Israel’s key condition, Reuters reported
“There is agreement on the principles but translating those principles into practical action is a challenge that is still ahead of us,” a senior Israeli official said.
