Thursday, February 14

Ma'an exclusive - new initiative for ceasfire between Palestinians and Israelis in Gaza

"Let the occupier leave, let the aggression stop and let
there be recognition of our people's right to their land.
Then there will be no reason to continue with the
status quo," Haniyeh said.


Muhammad Al-'Awawi- Ma'an has obtained a copy of an
unprecedented document that includes an initiative for a
ceasefire in Gaza between Palestinians and the Israelis
with an agreement to lift the Israeli siege of Gaza in
exchange for a halt to the firing of rockets towards Israel.

Journalist Khaled Al-Amayra, who prepared the initiative
told Ma'an, "the initiative is still being studied by the
concerned parties and the ball is now in Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert's court, after the leaders of Hamas,
both in Gaza and in exile, agreed to the terms of the initiative."

Al-Amayra said that he initiated this agreement as an
independent Islamic personality that does not belong
to any party, after he attained the agreement of Rabbi
Manahem Fruman, who assured him that many of the
Rabbis and some ex-Israeli politicians, including
former Defense Minister Amir Peretz, and many
authors and journalists support this initiative.
Al-Amayra also stressed that top Hamas leaders in
exile and the de facto government in Gaza know about
the initiative and accept it without any reservation.

"One of the main things that Israel must adhere to in
the initiative is an immediate cancellation of all punishments
imposed on Gaza and to stop all aggressive actions,
especially assassinations, ambushes and airstrikes.
The Palestinian authorities in Gaza, on the other hand,
will have to make a pledge to stop all kinds of attacks
against Israel and to enforce a ceasefire and take
responsibility for any violation of this agreement,"
Al-Amayra added.

Al-Amayra also asserted that this initiative poses a
"challenge" to the Israeli government because it
uses Al-Qassam rockets as an excuse to attack the
Gaza Strip. He is convinced though that Israel will
agree to its terms.

Deposed Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh
had previously expressed his readiness to study any
suggestion or initiative that could put an end to the
Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.

Haniyeh had also pointed out in a press conference that
the road to security and a just peace is known to all
parties. "Let the occupier leave, let the aggression
stop and let there be recognition of our people's right
to their land. Then there will be no reason to continue
with the status quo," Haniyeh said.

As for any connection between the initiative and the
deal to exchange the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit
for a number of Palestinian prisoners, Al Amayra
expressed his hopes for the initiative to be a catalyst for
the exchange deal. In addition, he hopes that this initiative
will reunite the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

He also said he hopes that Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas will embrace the initiative because it
is in the interests of the Palestinian people and their just cause.

The following is the text of the proposed
ceasefire agreement:

Subject: General outlines of a prospective Hudna or
Truce between the government of Israel and the
Palestinian Authorities in Gaza

Date: January, 2008

Pursuant to this agreement, Israel and the Palestinian
authorities in Gaza shall carry out the following obligations:

I- Israeli obligations

1-Terminate and immediately lift all sanctions against
the Gaza Strip. This includes the following:

a - Allowing normal economic activities between
Gaza and the outside world.

b - Re-opening all border crossings between Gaza and
the outside world, including allowing normal travel
movement as well as the flow of goods and services
from and to the Strip.

c - Israel shall refrain from using security pretexts
to harass, punish Gaza or re-impose sanctions, partially or fully.

d - Israel shall move immediately to terminate the
financial blockade on the Gaza Strip and allow normal
financial transactions between the Gaza Strip and
the outside world.

2 - Israel shall immediately cease all hostilities against
the Gaza Strip, including the following:

a - Cessation of all targeted killings and ambush, cessation
of all aerial bombings, cessation of all incursions into Gaza,
cessation of all arrests, detentions and hounding of
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

II - Palestinian obligations:

The Authorities in the Gaza Strip would undertake to
put an end to all attacks of any kind against Israel.
This includes the following:

a - An immediate cessation of all attacks and firings of
projectiles against Israel.

b - The authorities in the Gaza Strip undertake to
impose a ceasefire on all groups and factions and individuals
operating within the Gaza Strip.

c - The authorities in the Gaza Strip shall be held
responsible for violations.

III-Verification:

The implementation of this agreement can be monitored
and verified by a third party, subject to mutual consent.


IV- The agreement must be approved by the
Palestinian Authority leadership in Ramallah, preferably
by Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen.

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