Cairo draft accord may embody Israeli concessions on security in return for
Hamas truce
PA negotiator Ahmad al-Azzam
debkafiles intelligence sources disclose that the Egyptian-brokered draft
deal Israeli and Hamas delegates inked in Cairo Monday night, Aug. 18,
contained, in return for a Hamas commitment to withhold rocket fire on the
Israeli population for an extended, though unspecified, period, a number of
Israeli concessions and waivers. They are subject to endorsement by the
Israeli security cabinet, which does not convene until Tuesday. The Egyptian
foreign ministry later Monday announced that the two parties had agreed to
extend the Gaza truce for 24 hours to complete negotiations.
These provisions of this draft, according to Egyptian sources - though not
confirmed by Israeli officials - are disclosed here for the first time:
1. Palestinian fishing rights are extended from 3 to 12 miles.
2. Israel will restore the Gaza Strips electrical power capacity within a
year.
3. The Palestinian Authority based in Ramallah will oversee and administer
all the rehabilitation operations to be performed in the Gaza Strip.
4. An international mechanism will be formed to monitor the building
materials delivered to Gaza.
5. Israel will lift its financial restrictions on Gazas banks.
6. Israel and Hamas will begin discussing the building of a deep sea port
and international airport for the Gaza Strip in a months time.
7. They will also embark on parallel negotiations for the release of
Palestinians in Israeli security prisons.
8. An extension of the truce and cessation of hostilities between the two
parties will take place.
debkafiles sources report an attempt by some Israeli officials to present
the draft as incorporating a process which separates the humanitarian and
security issues.
However, it may be that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense
Minister Yaalon are looking for a pretext to explain the concessions that
were made for the sake of a ceasefire for an indefinite period or else
they are trying to ward off Egyptian-Palestinian browbeating for a deal.
According to the disclosures so far, the draft agreement if it is approved
by the cabinet will embody four major Israeli concessions:
--- Waiving demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and disarmament of Hamass
rockets and terror tunnels at this point.
--- Lifting the blockade of the Gaza Strip - economically and by the
establishment of ports.
--- Reversal of a government decision to abstain from negotiating the
release of convicted Palestinian terrorists from jail, which the Israeli
public will never accept.
--- Rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip before any steps are taken towards
disarming Hamas.
The danger of this waiver is already apparent in the announcement by the
radical Popular Committees faction that it is not bound by any Hamas
commitment to suspend rocket attacks. In any case, according to a Egyptian
foreign ministry statement late Monday: Israel and the Palestinians have
only agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire extension i.e., until Tuesday midnight,
for further negotiations.
EM
On the 49th Parallel
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in
anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni
katika machafuko"
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