An Israeli security chief in Cairo to listen from Egyptians about truce talks

Saturday May 24, 2008 17:30

by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

Chief of the political and security division of the Israeli army, Amos Gil'ad , will arrive in Cairo today in order to listen from Egyptian mediators about latest round of truce talks with representatives of Palestinian factions, Israeli radio 'Hebrew Service' reported.

Chief of Egyptian intelligence , Omar Sulieman

Gil'ad will meet with the chief of Egyptian intelligence , Omar Suklieman and that he will get a clear image as to how things are going regarding the truce deal talks, so that Israel will take the proper decision; whether proceeding a truce or carrying out a large attack against Hamas in Gaza.

Matan Valnaei, deputy-minister of defense, told the Israeli radio today that Israel will exert any efforts to prevent what he called ' Palestinian attacks' , reiterating that Israel will not involve in negotiations with what he termed ' terrorist organizations', and that it is currently only holding talks with Egypt.

Valnaei praised Egypt's efforts to contain what he described ' current crisis ' in the Gaza Strip, asserting that his country will yield no effort to curb Palestinian attacks.

Over the weekend, representatives of Palestinian factions returned back from Cairo after completing a new round of truce talks, based on an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire offer by Palestinian factions.

The offer states that Israel would lift the Gaza blockade and halts military attacks on Gaza and that the ruling Hamas party would ensure halt of homemade shells fire from Gaza onto nearby Israeli towns for a period of six months, to be extended later to the West Bank.