Hawkish Israel agrees to three peace deals

A thaw in the highly tensed Arab-Israeli relations appeared to be in the making last week with the announcement of three separate peace deals that had been negotiated by Israel with its neighbours, but there was no optimism expressed for peace and only much scepticism was voiced. Many have been the Middle East peace agreements that were initiated in the past half century and many have been the failures.

Hamas the militant Palestinian organisation which does not recognise the state of Israel and is sworn to its destruction and Israel which does not recognise Hamas and has been attacking Hamas in the Gaza strip, reached a six month agreement for a ceasefire. The negotiations had been brokered through Egypt.

Both sides, commentators have pointed out needed a respite from the continuing violence. Last week it was claimed that 90 rockets were fired by the Palestinians into Israel with no deaths reported while Israeli attacks on the Gaza accounted for the deaths of more than 20 Palestinians.

Pact with the devil

"It was a pact with the devil" Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was quoted saying. Olmert facing charges of corruption is under severe pressure by Israeli parties to resign from office. The cessation of incessant rocket fire into southern   Israel may help him.

Hamas leaders too are under severe pressure because after the seizure of control of Gaza a year ago from Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah, Israel had imposed a severe blockade on Gaza halting the flow of goods and people in and out of Gaza. The 1.2 mn inhabitants have been living mostly on UN provided food. Israel has been periodically cutting of power and fuel supplies as well.

Supportive of Israel

Hamas even though it won a popular vote in the Gaza over the corrupt Fatah administration is not recognised by the US, Israel and the west - all of them being strongly supportive of Israel.

The ceasefire agreement provides for a flow of goods into the Gaza and by Friday truck loads carrying food had moved in, the agreement coming into effect on Thursday.

If the agreement holds, talks will begin for the release of the young Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit who was captured by the Palestinians two years ago. Hamas wants the release of   hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons in exchange. This is a tough proposition and earlier proposals for peace talks floundered on this issue. If this hurdle is overcome the Reffai border post between Gaza and Egypt would be opened but manned by Europeans

Another consideration for the success or failure of the agreement would be the ability of Hamas to control other militant groups who too have been firing rockets into Israel. The agreement also does not cover the West Bank of Palestine where Israel still carries out military operations. A flare up there could be followed in the Gaza wrecking the peace plan.

It is pointed out that some Israeli hardliners consider that this agreement would confer legitimacy on Hamas while also giving them time to consolidate themselves and smuggle in arms.

For Israel continuous rocket attacks would have compelled them to conduct a military invasion of the Gaza which would have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians and Israeli soldiers. Also, even after such an invasion, Hamas would not have been eliminated or driven out from the Gaza. Therefore the better option was the agreement reached however unpalatable it may be for Israel.

Agreement with Lebanon

Israel which has shown a marked reluctance to reach agreements with its Arab neighbours last week agreed to direct peace talks with neighbouring Lebanon. All contentious issues were negotiable, including the  piece of land between the borders of the two countries called the Sheeba Farms.

Israel has been holding on to these lands after the one year war between the Shiite militant group, the Hezbollah, two years ago. Lebanon has been insisting that Israel returns this land prior to any negotiations as well as provide maps of  mines and cluster bombs they laid in Lebanon during the last war - these bombs and mines being meant to thwart the Hezbollah who are occupying the region making incursions into Israel.

Lebanon also wants the return of all Lebanese prisoners. Reports said that Condoleezza Rice the US Secretary of State had initiated these peace talks to 'solve bigger issues in the region.'

The aim of Western nations is to weaken the Hezbollah - aligned to Iran and Syria and is anti West - while supporting the pro Western government of Lebanon.

Israel-Syria agreement

The completion of the second round of indirect negotiations between Israel and Syria ended successfully and a peace treaty was on the cards, it was reported last week. The main contentious issue is the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel which was captured by Israel in the 1967 Seven Day War and is holding on to it despite UN resolutions.

The talks were mediated by Turkey and backed by France. The Syrian President Baskar-al-Assad and Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert are to hold talks in France soon, reports said.