A day after Israel announced a unilateral ceasefire in Gaza, Hamas prime minster Ismail Haniyeh, speaking from his place of concealment, said that Israel's attack had ended in failure and had not deterred the Palestinians. Following the declarations of victory by Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and minister of defense Ehud Barak, the Hamas prime minister announced, "We have won a great victory, we repulsed the attack, and you have not achieved your objectives."
In his speech, broadcast on the Hamas television station, Haniyeh said his organization's decision to declare a ceasefire was "wise and responsible," and that "God granted the Palestinian people a great victory. This victory is not to the credit of one faction alone, but to the entire people."
Earlier, after a meeting with other Palestinian groups, Hamas announced an immediate ceasefire, saying they were giving the Israeli forces a week to withdraw from Gaza. Hamas also demanded that Israel should open the border crossing into the Gaza Strip to enable humanitarian supplies and equipment to be brought in.
For his part, Olmert told European leaders in Jerusalem last night that Israel had no intention of remaining in Gaza. Speaking to an unprecedented gathering at a dinner in Jerusalem, attended by prime minister of the Czech Republic Mirek Topolanek, who is also president of the European Council, UK prime minister Gordon Brown , prime minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi, chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, prime minister of Spain Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and president of France Nicolas Sarkozy, Olmert said, "I wish to express my personal appreciation and the appreciation of the people of Israel to you, leaders of the European countries, for demonstrating your impressive support for the State of Israel and your concern for its safety… you expressed profound commitment to assisting in every way possible in order to ensure that weapons will not succeed in reaching the murderous organizations in Gaza."
"More than three weeks ago, the government of Israel decided to launch a military operation in order to thoroughly change the reality in the southern communities with regard to security. The reality in which the residents of Sderot, the Gaza Envelope and other communities lived for many years was an impossible one intolerable for our citizens and impossible for us all as a nation. No sovereign nation would allow its civilians to be harmed; no enlightened regime suffers indiscriminate fire directed at its residents," Olmert said.
"Today, after three weeks in which the IDF and security services conducted an outstanding military operation and struck a serious blow to the Hamas organization, and after we realized the goals we determined as we launched the campaign we decided on a ceasefire. We did so to comply with the request of the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak," he continued.
"I would like to add that if the ceasefire is stable, especially in light of the statements we heard today, the State of Israel has no intention of staying in the Gaza Strip. We are interested in withdrawing from the Gaza Strip as quickly as possible the moment we are assured that the ceasefire is being respected and is stable, and that there is no threat to the security of Southern Israel. Our intention is not to conquer or control Gaza. We do not wish to remain in Gaza. We intend to withdraw as soon as possible."
"Turning again to the European leaders, Olmert said, "You all just arrived here from Egypt where you expressed your support of the Egyptian president’s sincere efforts and commitment to advance a solution and assist in achieving a long-lasting and stable ceasefire.
"Today it is clear to everyone that in order to achieve a stable ceasefire, Hamas must be prevented from building up its military capabilities through massive weapons smuggling from Iran and Syria to the Gaza Strip.
"Now we must translate that commitment, together with Egypt and the United States, with whom we signed a memorandum of understanding on this matter, into actions which will prevent the terrorist organization, Hamas, from rearmament. This is in the supreme interest of all those who fight the forces of evil. It is also in the interest of all those who believe wholeheartedly in and wish to advance the peace process between ourselves and the Palestinians.
"It is no secret that my Government, with the full participation of the vice prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Tzipi Livni, and the minister of defense, Ehud Barak, together with all our friends, placed the matter of negotiations with the Palestinians at the top of our agenda alongside our concern for the security of Israel. We hope that stability in Gaza, the ceasefire and the undermining of the Hamas regime that is the inevitable result of the strengthening of President Abu Mazen, will allow us to advance the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians as rapidly as possible. We will all make every effort as we have over the past two years to do so.
"For our part, out of the most basic human values, we have done and will continue to do all that is necessary to prevent a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and so that we can help the innocent civilians who fell victim to the terrorist organization.
"We are interested in working in conjunction with you in order to create better conditions for a peaceful and better life for the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip. Through a joint, educated effort which will lessen the Hamas’s dominance, I believe we will succeed."
Olmert ended with an expression of regret for the civilian casualties of the fighting among the Palestinians." I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to reiterate the pain of the State of Israel and its sorrow and that of its soldiers for the loss of civilian life among the citizens of Gaza who were not involved in terror and served as hostages for the murders of Hamas."
The last word was reserved for Gilad Shalit, who has been in captivity in Gaza for over two and a half years. "In conclusion, I must mention our kidnapped soldier, Gilad Shalit, who is also a French citizen. We will continue working together with you and with your help to do all that is necessary to bring about his longed-for release."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on January 19, 2009
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