Abbas to hold emergency meeting on Gaza

[Jefferson23]

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- President Abbas will hold an emergency meeting in Ramallah Tuesday evening to discuss initiatives to end Israel's war on Gaza, sources told Ma'an.

The emergency meeting will take place at 7 p.m. and Abbas will discuss his latest visits to Qatar and Cairo.

It is expected that the president will announce a political initiative to demand that the international community intervene in the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, including issuing a timetable for Israel withdrawing from the occupied Palestinian territories.

Efforts are still ongoing to achieve a ceasefire proposal presented by Egypt, which is likely similar to previous initiatives but with minor changes, a Palestinian source said.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=723407

[Jefferson23]

1. Israeli forces detain 12 PFLP leaders in West Bank

NABLUS (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained 12 leaders from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine overnight Monday, sources in the group told Ma'an.

Ahmad al-Haj Muhammad Abu al-Nimr and Zahi Khatatba were detained in the Nablus town of Furik, while Kamal Ibrahim Abu Tharifa, Youssef Abd al-Haq Abu Shaddad and Moussa Salama were arrested in Nablus.

Amjad Hamayil, 37, was arrested from his house in Beta during a raid.

In Jenin, Israeli forces detained Fadaa al-Zugheibi, Muhammad al-Zugheibi, Abdullah al-Afif, Alam Sami Masad and Jaafar Abu Salah.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=723342

[Jefferson23]

2. Palestinians protest closure of Hebron checkpoint

HEBRON (Ma'an) -- Dozens of Palestinians demonstrated in Hebron's Old City on Tuesday to protest the closure of a military checkpoint by Israeli forces, witnesses said, after it was burned down by a firebomb.

A sit-in protest was held in front of a checkpoint in al-Shuhada street in the city, which has been closed since Friday.

Israeli forces reportedly told Palestinian residents to "look for another way to cross the street," locals said.

The checkpoint is the only access point for students of the Qurtuba school.

Israelis soldiers fired stun grenades at protesters to disperse them.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=723388

[Jefferson23]

3. Hamas: 'The talks have finished, we've reached an agreement'

Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzook said Tuesday afternoon that, "The talks have finished, we've reached an agreement."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4564261,00.html

[Jefferson23]

4. Palestinian sources: Gaza cease-fire to be announced on Tuesday evening

Amid rocket fire and IDF strikes on Operation Protective Edge's 50th day, Hamas leader Haniyeh says, "We are approaching a diplomatic understanding that addresses the needs of our people."

snip* Khaled al-Batsh, Islamic Jihad’s representative to the Cairo cease-fire talks, said the Palestinian delegation was awaiting Israel’s response to the proposal, which was “acceptable in principle.”

Al Hayat quoted a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader as telling the paper that the group wanted the agreement in order to “stop the brutal aggression” and avoid the deaths of Palestinian children, adding that the Israelis had “targeted civilians to put pressure on the resistance.”

The official said Israel was “eager to reach an agreement” despite its “arrogance,” noting that senior Israeli officials had been involved in indirect talks. He added that the Egyptian proposal would strengthen the role of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, including by assisting in supervision of the Rafah crossing. He added that Israel had “failed to achieve its goals,” which were to “disarm the resistance and prevent tunnel construction.”

http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Palestinian-sources-Gaza-cease-fire-to-be-announced-on-Tuesday-evening-372386

[bemildred]

5. We will see.

Bound to run out of things to bomb soon.

The apparent short time frame means we won't have to wait long.

[Jefferson23]

6. Hope so. n/t

[bemildred]

7. Well, it can't go on.

You have to understand the problem, Hamas is militarily a pipsqueak, and yet they have dragged the IDF (willingly to begin with it is true) into one of the longest wars in Israeli history, with substantial losses, and other costs foreign and domestic, and no end in sight. It's just not the image that "deterrence" demands for the end of this thing. The "Six Day War" this is not. And the longer that goes on, the worse it gets. Bibi is still looking for something he can call a win, and yet it has to end.

There are some amazingly lunatic opinions being bandied about over this thing too, and not just on the radical fringes.

[Jefferson23]

8. I agree, and it is that surface save face win he wants that worries me..what will it need to

look like to satisfy Bibi. His poll numbers just dropped again too.

[bemildred]

13. It's all over the news now. nt

[Jefferson23]

15. Yea, cease fire to be announced. Israel still no comment:

A Hamas spokesman tells Fox News that an extended cease-fire has been reached with Israel and both sides are awaiting an announcement from Egypt, which helped push for a deal.

A senior Hamas official who spoke to The Associated Press said the deal calls for an "open-ended" cease-fire, and an Israeli agreement to ease its blockade of Gaza to allow relief supplies and construction materials into the war-battered territory.

Talks on deeper issues, such as Hamas' demand to reopen Gaza's airport and seaport, would begin in a month.

The official said Egypt planned an announcement later Tuesday. He spoke on condition of anonymity pending the announcement. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

If the terms of the cease-fire are confirmed, it would effectively mean Hamas in the end settled for terms that are similar to those that ended more than a week of fighting with Israel in 2012.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/08/26/israel-targets-gaza-high-rises-as-egypt-pushes-for-new-talks/

[Jefferson23]

17. You called it yesterday..here it is: Israel OKs truce, said to start at 7;

Israeli killed in mortar strike

Hamas claims ‘victory’; Abbas to announce ceasefire, statehood initiative later Tuesday, but Israel yet to confirm deal; rockets hits Ashdod preschool, Ashkelon house; six said killed in Gaza strikes

By Ricky Ben-David, Haviv Rettig Gur and Yifa Yaakov August 26, 2014, 12:35 am Updated: August 26, 2014, 6:34 pm

Read more: Israel OKs truce, said to start at 7; Israeli killed in mortar strike | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/day-50-hamas-confirms-talk-of-new-truce-rockets-from-lebanon-fired-at-galilee-idf-hits-back/#ixzz3BVvcWDa5
Follow us: @timesofisrael on Twitter | timesofisrael on Facebook

[bemildred]

18. Yep.

Egypt state media announces Gaza war cease-fire

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_ISRAEL_PALESTINIANS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-08-26-11-35-43

Senior officials: Ministers informed Israel will accept Gaza cease-fire

http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Senior-officials-Ministers-informed-Israel-will-accept-Gaza-cease-fire-372404

[Jefferson23]

20. Good call, bemildred. The worst of the killing is hopefully behind them. n/t

[bemildred]

21. Prediction is always a risky game, but sometimes you get lucky.

The war was already well past its sell-by date. Bibi has to cut his losses at some point.

But yeah, less killing will be good for everybody.

Now the investigations and recriminations can begin. Much more information should start coming out.

[Jefferson23]

22. Yea, the political war will be back, like never before in this conflicts history, I think. n/t

[bemildred]

23. A real donnybrook, I expect.

Particularly on the Israeli side.

Perhaps we will hear what happened to Deif.

[Jefferson23]

24. Yes, Deif for one. If he is alive he'll be trotted out when they feel his presence will give

maximum impact to their cause. Dead, he is still a martyr and one who Israel was only able to kill
while killing his wife and baby...something like that I expect.

It is the investigation wars I am most interested in watching too, and Abbas and all
the factions..will they work together and utilize their very real legal strengths for
the good of future generations of Palestinians. They have a great deal to work with,
so we'll see.

[bemildred]

35. Hamas' Meshaal says armed wing commander 'fine' after failed assassination attempt

DOHA - Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal described the condition of the group's military commander Mohammed Deif as "fine", after what it terms an Israeli assassination attempt on him earlier this month.

Hamas' military wing, the Izz-el-Din al-Qassam Brigades, had said at the time that Israel had missed its target and that Deif's wife and seven-month-old son were killed in the attack.

Deif was widely believed to be masterminding the Islamist group's military campaign from underground bunkers.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4565401,00.html

[bemildred]

19. And: Gaza ceasefire to begin at 1600 GMT: Palestinian official

http://www.gulf-times.com/Region/216/details/405700/Gaza-ceasefire-to-begin-at-1600-GMT%3a-Palestinian-official

[hack89]

9. Do they really think the international community is getting in the middle of that mess?

The map of the ME is being rewritten by ISIS as we speak with the world helplessly wringing their hands. They don't need another reason to look impotent.

[Jefferson23]

10. They're already involved, up to their ears. n/t

[hack89]

11. iSIS is bad news for Hamas

It is hard to support one fundamentalist terrorist group and fight another. Until the PA supercedes Hamas, it is hard to see a lot of international support. Abbas is using that perception to offer himself as the reasonable Palestinian.

[Jefferson23]

12. ISIS is not Hamas, that is Bibi spreading propaganda to justify what he did in Gaza. n/t

[hack89]

25. Not even the Arab world agrees with you

Hence their muted response to the war in Gaza. Hamas will go on the back burner until ISIS is sorted out. The entire war started over Hamas trying to break out of their perceived isolation. The overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt was a crushing blow as now they are surrounded by neighbors hostile to their goals.

[Jefferson23]

26. Arab leaders one would hope you could distinguish from their citizens. That has nothing to do with

what I said, Hamas is not ISIS, period. Maybe you should focus on the support Hamas has among
their own people..thanks to Bibi, it has grown.

[hack89]

28. That is unfortunate

History is replete with the suffering of countries as they follow bad leaders. Widespread support does not automatically convey legitimacy or moral standing. Sometimes it is nothing more than the poor choice by a desperate people. And it often has an unhappy ending.

[Jefferson23]

29. Yea, well tell that to Bibi as Hamas was prepared to join the unity agreement and they

were at a low of support and agreed to have elections at the time of 6 months going forward. You kill thousands of
people they tend to revert back to who fights for them on their behalf.

[hack89]

32. Time will tell

Gaza and Hamas will have to wait until more important issues are resolved.

[Jefferson23]

33. Of course, it is far from over but the cease fire is here. n/t

[azurnoir]

27. ah yes nice to see who Hamas was most like was finally settled on

the initial feelers sent out on this were that Hamas was just like Boku Haram or more like lSIS, I guess the Boku Haram thing didn't take wing or it was decided that they are all Arabs would go down more easily than they are all Muslims
in any event that Hamas and ISIS are the same is pure packaged BS for a willing and/or gullible audience

[Jefferson23]

30. Yes, dumbass Bibi. He thinks this will help him, somehow or other. n/t

[King_David]

34. Yes the channel changed. nt

[bemildred]

14. Once 'Best in the West', Israel's economy shows cracks

JERUSALEM, Aug 26 (Reuters) - For more than a decade, Israel's high-tech-fuelled economy has weathered the global financial crisis and several military conflicts with little impact on growth or the free flow of foreign investment.

But its strong run, which led former finance minister Yuval Steinitz to coin its justifiably upbeat tag as the 'Best in the West', may be coming to an abrupt end, with the era of sustainable high growth rates consigned to history.

The war against Hamas in Gaza, which ran into a 50th day on Tuesday, has taken a heavy toll, hitting tourism, slowing consumer spending as people stay indoors and denting manufacturing, especially in plants close to Gaza.

Even before the conflict began on July 8, growth was weakening. A preliminary estimate showed the economy grew an annualised 1.7 percent in the second quarter, down from 2.8 percent in the first, while unemployment inched above 6 percent from 5.7 percent in late 2013.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/08/26/israel-economy-idUKL5N0QW1Q920140826

[Jefferson23]

16. snip* Hamas' deputy leader in Cairo, Moussa Abu Marzouk

said, according to Haaretz. "We are waiting for an official announcement to set the final hour and announce a cease-fire and an end to Israeli aggression."

Ziad Nakhala, a senior official in Islamic Jihad, another faction fighting in Gaza, told the Associated Press the truce calls for an "open-ended" cease-fire, and an Israeli agreement to ease its blockade.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will make the official announcement at noon ET Tuesday, the Palestinian Ma'an News Agency reported.

A senior Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity pending the official announcement, confirmed the terms to the AP.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/08/26/israel-hamas-gaza-cease-fire/14613107/

[Jefferson23]

31. LIVE UPDATES: Despite cease-fire announcement, rocket sirens sound in south

Six Palestinians killed in IDF strikes on Gaza since midnight; southern Israel under heavy fire; Ashkelon building, yard of Ashdod kindergarten struck directly; rapid barrage fired at communities on Gaza border.

By Haaretz | Aug. 26, 2014 | 8:50 PM

On the 50th day of the Gaza operation, Israel and the Palestinians agreed to an Egyptian cease-fire proposal. However, rocket sirens continued to sound in Israel's south after 7 P.M., when the cease-fire was said to go into effect.

Earlier, a mortar shell fired from Gaza killed one Israeli and wounded six others in a town on the Gaza border, raising the Israeli death toll since the operation began to 69. The Israeli army continued to attack in Gaza, striking over 40 targets since midnight and killing over six Palestinian across the Strip. The Palestinian death toll has surpassed 2,100.


Latest updates Tuesday:

8:57 P.M. The United States cautiously welcomes the latest Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire and urges both sides to comply with the terms of the agreement, the State Department said on Tuesday.

"We call on all parties to fully and completely comply with its terms, and hope very much that the ceasefire will prove to be durable and sustainable," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters at a daily briefing.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.612468