Gaza Groups Agree to Stop Firing at Israel

As reported here, terrorist groups in Gaza, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have agreed to a unilateral ceasefire at midnight tonight; the agreement was brokered by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, who are looking for a way out of the crisis.

This crisis was precipitated by repeated rocket attacks by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier, 19- year-old Cpl. Gilad Shalit. As a result of the repeated attacks and the kidnapping, Israel's military has been waging war against the terrorists, to both stop the repeated attacks and to retrieve their comrade.

Apparently, the Israeli's are being quite effective in their war against the terrorists, as evidenced by the unilateral ceasefire. But the thing is, also apparently, both Abbas and Haniyeh are clueless as to how to resolve the crisis - a crisis brought about by their own groups.

Well, here's the simple answer. Stop the repeated rocket attacks - permanently - by Hamas and Islamic Jihad against Israel, preferably through disarming - again, permanently - both Hamas and Islamic Jihad (and any other terrorist groups), and return Cpl. Shalit to his comrades.

Now, should Israel agree to abide by the ceasefire as well? I think they should, as long as certain conditions are agreed to, and met, by Abbas and Haniyeh, which I outlined above. Until those conditions are met, however, I think the Israeli's are perfectly justified if they decide to continue killing the terrorists.

If - and this is a big if - those conditions are met, it would mean an end to the wanton killing of Israeli civilians (as well as members of the IDF); would remove a terrorist threat to the existence of Israel from at least one quarter; and would allow Israel then to re-deploy a certain amount of their forces from Gaza to Lebanon.

Hopefully, Israel will not make the mistake of granting concessions to the terrorists, and will make hard demands of Abbas and Haniyeh that can be verified. Israel is in a position of strength, while the terrorists are in a position of weakness, and Israel must not give up their position of strength.