Today's Situation

STRIKING A DEAL, November 29, 2006

Some 200,000 Israeli civil servants are on strike over unpaid wages on Wednesday and half the nation's police are out looking for a serial rapist who escaped from custody last week and has been evading capture for five days.

Little wonder, therefore, that the diplomatic rumblings in the Middle East take back seat to domestic affairs on the front pages of today's newspapers and in the morning news shows.

Despite their low billing, the meetings slated for the next 24 hours could have a significant impact on the future of the peace process in general, and the fate of Gilad Shalit and the ceasefire in particular.

Having met with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in Cairo yesterday – the first trip out of the Gaza Strip for the Hamas leader since his election earlier this year – Egypt's intelligence director, Omar Suleiman, will meet today in Jerusalem with his Israeli counterparts. According to Haaretz, Suleiman will present Israel with Hamas' demands for the release of Shalit, which is currently stalled over the number of Palestinian prisoners who will be freed in exchange for the captive IDF soldier. There have been reports that Hamas is demanding 1,400 prisoners go free, while Israel is reportedly willing to release no more than 300. There have been frequent reports that a deal for Shalit's release has been close, but each time the talks foundered.

In the Gaza Strip, meanwhile, the ceasefire remains fragile, with militants still firing Qassams at Israel since the truce took effect. Militants launched two more rockets on Tuesday night, Palestinian witnesses said. There were no reports of injuries.

According to Arutz 7, Olmert met with European Union ambassadors at the home of the Finnish Ambassador last night, where he said, 'We are slightly disappointed by the continued Qassam firing by the Palestinians. I very much hope that the Palestinians will fulfill their obligations and cease their fire. I am sure that the European Union will greatly appreciate Israel's approach in keeping the ceasefire,' Olmert added.

But Defense Minister Amir Peretz warned there was a limit to Israel’s patience. 'Whoever agrees to a cease-fire must be able to impose it,' Peretz told Army Radio. 'Violations of cease-fire understandings will provoke a harsh response on our part.'

Tomorrow, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Jericho. According to Haaretz, Rice will urge President Abbas to increase efforts to impose order in the Palestinian Authority, in order not to miss the opportunity to resume negotiations offered by the Gaza cease-fire and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's speech in Sde Boker on Monday. It is still no clear whether Rice will also meet with Prime Minister Olmert.

Maariv, meanwhile, reports from Olmert's meeting with the EU ambassadors and claims that he laid out for them his vision for the future of negotiations. According to the paper, Olmert told the envoys that even if the Hamas-led Palestinian government refuses to meet the three conditions laid out in the first stage of the roadmap, Israel would continue to pursue negotiations with Mahmoud Abbas. Olmert added that it would be easier to help alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people if a new unity government were to take control of the PA.

The Jerusalem Post, meanwhile, reports that defense establishment plans to make an official decision in the coming days to invest $300 million in an anti-Qassam and anti-Katyusha defense system under development by Rafael – Israel’s Armament Development Authority. According to the plan, a combination of a laser and an anti-Qassam missile interceptor will be operational for deployment outside the Gaza Strip within a year and a half. 

The above text was written and compiled by Simon Spungin using newpaper, radio and wire reports, in English and Hebrew.

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