Hamas and Israel to sign peace accord

[Dean]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/EC97905E-9D8A-4B11-B7E2-4BC3E9DAAF8A.htm

Thoughts?

First thing that struck me was that the agreement was only for 6 months. The second thing I wondered was whether or not Israel would actually stop its incursions (it has proven unreliable in the past with these ceasefire agreements) and if any real concessions besides direct assualts have been made. What about the economic terrorism that Gazans have dealt with for the last 2 years?

Then again, the ceasing of rockets fired into neighborhoods is good in any case.

[Hyacinth]

If the cease fire holds the cessation of violence, however brief, should be good for the Palestinian population. I think the economic issue is much more important, and I notice that the article doesn’t mention anything about lifting the economic sanctions against Gaza. Regardless, I’m not holding my breath for peace, in fact, we’ll see whether this agreement actually lasts for 6 months.

[redSHARP]

it will be interesting to see how this peace lasts. hopefully the blockade will be lifted and the peace will continue.

[YKTMX]

The Israelis have retained the right to tackle "weapons smuggling" into the Gaza. I don't know, but I presume they also haven't given up their "right" to act on intelligence about the whereabouts of militants in the PNA.

As one of the members said, I hope this peace holds at least long enough to give the Palestinians some breathing room. Whether the Israeli commanders can stymie their desires to murder people for more than a brief moment is doubtful, however. But good news, I'd say.

[Mather]

Over the course of the last eight years, there have been many 'agreements' and 'deals' such as this one, none of them ever lasted or amounted to anything.

I hope the people of Gaza can get some breathing space from the terror, violence, oppression, starvation, siege and all the other hardships they have suffered.

Whether this lasts, only time will tell.