DEBKA August 17, 2014, 9:24 AM (IDT)
A three-way bloc fronted the talks for a durable truce in Gaza when they resumed in Cairo Sunday, Aug. 17.
DEBKAfile’s intelligence sources report exclusively that Egyptian President Abdel Fatteh El-Sisi, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas have lined up in a solid phalanx against the Islamist Hams-Islamic Jihad alliance.
Their lineup, backed from the wings by Saudi King Abdullah and Russian President Vladimir Putin, set itself five objectives:
1. To confront Hamas with a solid political-security front which is beyond its power to break.
2. To corner Hamas into accepting the Egyptian ceasefire proposion unchanged and unconditionally.
3. To compel Hamas to disarm, i.e. dismantle its rockets and tunnels, so pulling the teeth of its military wing, Ezz e-Din al-Qassam.
4. To distance the Obama administration from the triple bloc’s dealings with the Palestinian Islamist factions.
5. To keep the Europeans from interfering in those dealings.
The foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and Italy meeting in Brussels offered Friday to take charge of Gaza’s border crossings and work to prevent illegal arms flows.
Saturday, Cairo, Jerusalem and Ramallah politely informed Brussels that they preferred to handle this situation on their own and no European diplomatic or security assistance was needed.
The quiet shaping of this three-way alliance for resolving the Gaza conflict, by means of a sustainable cessation of hostilities, kept most of Israel’s and world media guessing, says DEBKAfile. In the interests of tight secrecy, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon chose to keep the rest of the cabinet in the dark as well, incurring loud complaints from ministers.
The proposition the three partners have formulated puts Hamas and Jihad on the spot. The Arab world has abandoned them and their only source of funding is Tehran. So their choices are grim: Face an escalated war that Israel will fight until the bitter end, or swallow hard and accept the only proposition on the table which is tantamount to disarmament and capitulation.
Their isolation is complete. The Egyptian, Israeli and Palestinian leaders have managed to cut Hamas away from any backing in Washington, Qatar and Turkey as well as blocking its path to Moscow.
To encourage Hamas to choose the right path, the Israel Air Force is cruising around-the-clock over Hamas bases and command centers in the Gaza Strip, ready at a signal to switch to the offensive if the Palestinian fundamentalists make the wrong choice in Cairo.
Mahmoud Abbas, who appeared to be sitting on the sidelines of the Gaza conflict during Israel’s month-long military operation, finally threw in his lost with Sisi and Netanyahu when it came to the crunch.
@ bernard ross:
http://pjmedia.com/victordavishanson/our-face-in-the-crowd/
bernard ross Said:
Your tongue is suck in your cheek, Darlin !!!!!!!!!!!!
honeybee Said:
these are some of his policies:
illegal immigration, fast&furious gun control,IRS stalking of opponents, black panther intimidation of voters, non verifcation of voter identities,expanding welfare benefit rolls to illegal immigrants,golf,……
bernard ross Said:
What policies !!!!!!!!!!!!! He doesn’t have any!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yamit82 Said:
yamit82 Said:
Very interesting, but what re you trying to say???????? That veterans are forgotten after the need for soldiers is finished? Old story !!!!!!!!!! Read Shakespeare’s ” Henry V part II”.
Some of you say: it is better to keep Hamas in power in order to increase the conflict between Hamas and PA. Don’t you think both of them have the same intentions against Israel/Jews? Do you think those in the southern part of Israel will be comfortable to live under the present conditions which happen at irregular intervals?
@ bernard ross:
Testimony From Gaza: “We Felt Like Sitting Ducks”
After leaving the Gaza Strip, soldiers are raising their voices and are talking about the reality on the ground. Some of them talk about how the humanitarian cease-fires “aided Hamas” and “loosen the army”, others claim frustration under an incessant rain of mortar shells.
Op-Ed: The President’s True Colors Finally Revealed
Steven Emerson’s Opinion on JerusalemOnline’s Report
After shunning Europe, Russia turning to Israel for fruit imports
Russia is interested in increasing its fruit imports from Israel, after deciding to boycott imports from Europe as part of the ongoing diplomatic spat between Russia and the West.
Israel, in danger of losing business over Gaza war, gains a client interested in shunning Europe.
Today Fruit tomorrow Planes and missiles? Maybe a veto in the UN as well???? Yamit
honeybee Said:
Flashback: The March of the Bonus Army
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXXs56tiZKU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMJhOSdxQVg
honeybee Said:
Israel’s best scenario, thats what I said at the beginning of the arab spring when jihaids were running to syria.
Note that the discord is not only with the arabs but also in Europe and USA. Obamas policies are causing a great deal of discord in the USA.
yamit82 Said:
I think that BB does not want to depose hamas with a cost to Israel because he knows the pressure will be to strong to give it officially to PA. it is the west who want hamas deposed or weakened enough to allow the PA to assert control in gaza so they can have a unified gov and proceed with their peace plans. For Israel it is worse to depose hamas unless it is going to annex. If it is not going to annex it is better to maintain that which leads to maintain the hamas fatah conflict. There is no difference if hamas or fatah run gaza. I suspect it may be better under current scenario to even work with hamas to keep it strong enough to keep out PA from gaza. Hamas was not very aggressive in the last few years since pillar of defense and appeared to start these recent rockets when Israel cleared them out of west bank, presumably for kidnappings and for abbas to win the election. Perhaps the status quo is best with pa in west bank and hamas in gaza. Gaza has real defacto agreed borders with Israel. The west will pressure Israel to restart negotiations even with only the installation of PA at the borders. Perhaps BB is simply laying it in the laps of the foreigners to pay the price for what they want or to stall the PA in gaza.
But the problem appears to be keeping as much of C as possible and restricting the west bank arabs to A&B or close by. Ultimately there is more of a possible defacto scenario of Israel keeping C through external events than through its own actions. Israel only holds C on a security basis but all out hostilities with the PA or some sort of UN takeover of A&B are more likely to maintain and improve Israels defacto hold on C. Perhaps Israel is hoping for time to establish its defacto hold on C by giving small parts of C to PA near A&B for pal growth.
I do believe that understandings with GCC underlie all of this but I am not convinced that even they give a damn about what the pals get but just want them quiet so they can deal with their existential problem of Iran and its attempts to depose them. Whether Israel got none of C or all of C probably makes no difference to GCC.
also, i do not follow rhetoric…in fact if there were understandings with Israel or agreements I would expect MORE negative rhetoric to counterbalance the perception on the street of which they would be concerned. Everybody has their constituency to deal with and if they have understandings they would also have understandings regarding needs to pretend to constituencies, including Israel. Deeds are the best explanation of what is going on.
@ yamit82:
The Almighty has sown discord among the enemies of Israel. TX is thrilled, SF has named their new stadium after him.
@ bernard ross:
Hundreds of Fatah members under Hamas house arrest in Gaza
Their leaders may be putting on a brave face in Cairo, but Fatah members in Gaza speak of Hamas intimidation
yamit82 Said:
Why does this make you happy?? Dichas of Deborah, ” Don’t muddy the water round you, you may have to drink it”.
Largest pro-Israel rally held so far since the war started – in India:
http://www.timesofisrael.com/20000-march-in-kolkata-in-show-of-support-for-israel/#!
In one sense, this should not be surprising – polls actually show that India and not the USA has the most strongly pro-Israel population, but when the leftist Congress Party ran things, it catered to Muslims and the international left. With the BJP running things, that will change considerably.
I also know, living in New Jersey, where there are now almost 500,000 Hindus, that the Hindu Indians do tend to be strongly pro-Israel.
So, the largest pro-Israel rallies held so far have been my Hindus in Kolkata and by Evangelical Christians in Washington.
The lefty Jewish leadership in America is disgusting.
@ yamit82:
But I’ll the cobbler with you. I little Black Jack and Apple Cobbler or pie ? TX says mattress padded Winnebago si for sissies, all you need is liner for the pick-up bed. My $50.00 for the flea market was somewhat short , about $69.00 to be exact.
honeybee Said:
A knife through my heart. 🙁
@ yamit82:
Just a note before I am of to spend my $50.00 . Gov. Perry is going to be on Chris Wallace’s program [ on FX news]. He is the only “MAN in the World” with whom I’d share a mattress padded Winnebago.
Egypt PM blames saboteurs for rising power cuts
Egypt’s premier on Saturday partially blamed the country’s worsening energy shortage — with rolling blackouts of up to six hours in some Cairo neighborhoods — on saboteurs seeking to undermine the government, a veiled reference to Islamist opponents.
Egypt PM blames saboteurs for rising power cuts
Egypt’s premier on Saturday partially blamed the country’s worsening energy shortage — with rolling blackouts of up to six hours in some Cairo neighborhoods — on saboteurs seeking to undermine the government, a veiled reference to Islamist opponents.
In recent weeks, rolling blackouts in Cairo and other cities have increased amid an energy crunch linked to shrinking revenues, depleted natural gas resources, lack of maintenance on debilitated power plants, and the government’s inability to pay its debts to foreign oil companies.
He said that the Brotherhood has resorted to acts of violence and sabotage because it is no longer able to bring large numbers of supporters into the streets.
The electricity cuts were one of the main sources of public anger against Morsi during his turbulent year in office. The military overthrew Morsi — Egypt’s first democratically elected leader — last summer amid massive protests calling for his resignation.
The death toll from violence during protests by Morsi supporters on Thursday and Friday has meanwhile risen to nine people, health ministry officials said Saturday.
Five were killed Friday and four others on Thursday in clashes with security forces and local residents during small, scattered protests mostly in and around the capital Cairo.
The demonstrations were marking the one-year anniversary of the Aug. 14 dispersal of two protest camps set up by Morsi supporters, which left hundreds of people dead in the worst mass killing in Egypt’s modern history.
More than 50 people were wounded during the clashes on Thursday and Friday. Police said the protesters clashed with local residents and police in a number of cities outside of Cairo as well, accusing some protesters of firing at security forces. Protesters also briefly blocked rural roads, setting tires on fire, and in one instant set municipal cars on fire.
Pro-Morsi protests have sharply declined in size over the past year, in part because of a security crackdown that has seen hundreds of people killed in clashes and tens of thousands detained.
Public hostility towards protests after three years of turmoil following the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, as well as a draconian anti-protest law imposed last year, have also contributed to the decline in street rallies.
Egypt PM blames saboteurs for rising power cuts
Egypt’s premier on Saturday partially blamed the country’s worsening energy shortage — with rolling blackouts of up to six hours in some Cairo neighborhoods — on saboteurs seeking to undermine the government, a veiled reference to Islamist opponents.
In recent weeks, rolling blackouts in Cairo and other cities have increased amid an energy crunch linked to shrinking revenues, depleted natural gas resources, lack of maintenance on debilitated power plants, and the government’s inability to pay its debts to foreign oil companies.
Speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab said 300 attacks on electricity pylons nationwide have deepened the crisis, leading to a drop in production by up to 15 percent. He called it “devilish planning” aimed at paralyzing the government.
“Without sabotage, we already have a problem,” he said. “This is increasing the problem to paralyze us totally.”
State television and private pro-government media have regularly reported such attacks, usually referring to the assailants as supporters and members of the Muslim Brotherhood group of ousted President Mohammed Morsi.
Since Morsi’s ouster last summer, his supporters have held near daily protests, demanding he be reinstated and denouncing the military for deposing him.
At the same time, the country has seen a rising wave of militant attacks against police and the military, with radical groups claiming responsibility and vowing to avenge the killing and detention of hundreds of Islamists.
The government has blamed the attacks on the Muslim Brotherhood, which has denied any involvement. The government has also declared the group a terrorist organization.
Mahlab said police have intensified their campaign to arrest saboteurs.
“Those who harm their country have no rights. We will continue to fight terrorism,” he said.
The Interior Ministry, responsible for the police, accused the Brotherhood of gathering information about the electricity infrastructure through its supporters in the government in order to facilitate the attacks.
Interior Ministry spokesman Hani Abdel-Latif said the police identified 40 suspects, divided into six different cells, who have planned attacks against electricity infrastructure.
He said that the Brotherhood has resorted to acts of violence and sabotage because it is no longer able to bring large numbers of supporters into the streets.
The electricity cuts were one of the main sources of public anger against Morsi during his turbulent year in office. The military overthrew Morsi — Egypt’s first democratically elected leader — last summer amid massive protests calling for his resignation.
The death toll from violence during protests by Morsi supporters on Thursday and Friday has meanwhile risen to nine people, health ministry officials said Saturday.
Five were killed Friday and four others on Thursday in clashes with security forces and local residents during small, scattered protests mostly in and around the capital Cairo.
The demonstrations were marking the one-year anniversary of the Aug. 14 dispersal of two protest camps set up by Morsi supporters, which left hundreds of people dead in the worst mass killing in Egypt’s modern history.
More than 50 people were wounded during the clashes on Thursday and Friday. Police said the protesters clashed with local residents and police in a number of cities outside of Cairo as well, accusing some protesters of firing at security forces. Protesters also briefly blocked rural roads, setting tires on fire, and in one instant set municipal cars on fire.
Pro-Morsi protests have sharply declined in size over the past year, in part because of a security crackdown that has seen hundreds of people killed in clashes and tens of thousands detained.
Public hostility towards protests after three years of turmoil following the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, as well as a draconian anti-protest law imposed last year, have also contributed to the decline in street rallies.
Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/world/middle-east/egypt-pm-blames-saboteurs-for-rising-power-cuts/article_bb5339e3-5b0b-51b8-a9a0-66e7bd766020.html#ixzz3Af0evL4I
Hamas managed to alienate almost every one in this war. Its main problem is its lack of international credibility. While it can threaten to go back to war, it risks losing ground at home. None of this means the Arabs are going to sue for peace. But they are compelled by reality to acknowledge further fighting is not in their own interests.
Only the IDF can disarm Hamas!
@ Etzel:
Materially, field officers and soldier level wise Tzahal is vastly superior to all Islamic rabbles combined.
The tragedy is that Oslo brought in the “rubber bullet”, “paint ball rifle”, boulder and empty shed bombing staff officers. And those are led by the likes of Peres, Olmert, Livni, Netanyahu, Barak, Peretz, Halutz, and others.
Never will such degraded ensemble lead to WIN.
They send out children to die in battle to reach “cease fires” and negotiations.
Who the above will always attack? Jews.
Etzel Said:
You are never going to get such psychotic, crazed, irrational, hate-filled genocidal fanatics (and I am talking the general Gaza population and not just Hamas) to move. They would rather die to the very last.
So Israel, if it really believes this is the solution, would ultimately have no choice but to oblige the martyrdom wishes of the Nazis of Gaza and wipe them out with nuclear weapons.
You may have to evacuate Sderot and Ashkelon for a couple of weeks, but there is simply no way to drive out such crazed fanatics. None.
The Terrorist Criminals that represent Gaza were elected by the residents of Gaza, there can be no other solution presented in Cairo other that the arrest of all Hamas Leaders and the complete disarmament of every resident in the Gaza Strip!
Abbas and Fatah are terrorists as well, they are not moderates (read the Fatah charter) and can have no say over any part of Gaza and or it’s citizens.
Israel must be given Sovereignty and complete control of all of Gaza with no Air or Sea ports. No other country is to be permitted access to Gaza all monies sent to Gaza must be controlled by Israel and all construction and materials must be registered with Israel and accounted for.
Those residents that do not want to abide by this decision must vacate Gaza and move to Jordan within 24 hours with only 2 suitcases they must also relinquish all rights of return and maintain their lives in Jordan.
Watch: Hamas Showcases Terror Tunnels, Rockets on Lebanese TV
Terrorists tell Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen TV that they are preparing for the next round of fighting with Israel, as chances of truce look bleak.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI_152KTHW4
Don’t buy the part with Abbas. Hamas can have his head on a stake whenever they choose. Most young Palis are now supporting Hamas and or try emulate Hamas from the West Bank.
Israel it’s claimedhas severly damaged the rocket production capability of Hamas but not totally and the last word I’ve heard is that they are back in production trying to make up for losses over the past month of fighting. Israel knowsand freely admits that there are more tunnels into Israel we have not destroyed.
Money was smuggled into Gaza even when it seemed all entrances were blocked. Same with weapons from Iran and Syria.
Seems recent attacks against Egypt from Sinai were originated from Gaza meaning there are still tunnels into Egypt from Gaza still operating.
I never bought into the story of Egypt closing some 1500 tunnels from Gaza into Egypt. Never saw a video or picture nor corroboration from any reputable source that Egypt destroyed those tunnels.
Hamas managed to smuggle in and out of Gaza everything even when Israel controlled the Gaza border.
Reminder: Abbas’s Fatah Declares a Return to Terror Against Israel
Terror wing of ‘moderate’ Abbas’s Fatah displays massive arsenal in Gaza video after taking part in Hamas war, vows to increase attacks.
Hamas has backing of Obama and EU.
Report: US Assigned to Pressure Israel in Truce Agreements
Washington to maintain pressure on Israel as part of truce deal, according to an Arabic daily – in another blow to US-Israel relations. 🙂
Overall and while nothing will come out of it for the long run, it is interesting if true.
Not because of the objectives except about those distancing Kerry and the EU, but to test the waters for other scenarios.
HAMAS and Jihad will never accept disarmament. They will respond only to the TAMIL Tigers control and disposition strategies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y9oVC-mGW8