The United States has embarked upon an international effort that includes Israel, Egypt and the moderate factions of the Palestinians, to formulate a ceasefire agreement that would neutralize Hamas' influence in the Palestinian territories, media reports said.
Quoting diplomatic sources in Jerusalem Sunday night, the reports said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is interested in a ceasefire agreement that would lead to an isolation of Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and include the following conditions:
A halt to rocket attacks and the terror emanating from Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, as well as to Hamas' military buildup, and the deployment of international forces in the coastal territory to enforce the implementation of a truce.
The release of captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, will also be included as one of Israel's terms for a halt to the fighting as part of any future agreement, it said.
The Israeli premier is also reported to have stressed that the operation in Gaza would continue. If Hamas doesn't stop the rocket fire, the terror and the military buildup and agree to international monitoring - the fighting will go on with international backing.
The American initiative--contrary to the moves by various countries, including the humanitarian ceasefire initiative being pushed by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner--is based on the four Israeli preconditions with respect to Gaza.
The initiative does not include any negotiation with Hamas, but rather forcing such a regional treaty on the organization.
Israel has made it clear to the U.S. and other countries involved in the initiative that its conditions were not negotiable, and that if they were not secured through a diplomatic course, they would be obtained through the military operation.
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