Thursday, January 15, 2009

Israeli official arrives in Egypt for ceasefire talks

A senior Israeli official arrived here on Thursday for talks with Egyptian mediators on a ceasefire in the warring Palestinian territory of Gaza Strip.

Amos Gilad, head of the Israeli Defense Ministry's Diplomatic-Security Bureau, arrived here on Thursday morning, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported.

The Israeli representative will have talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who is in charge of the mediation talks between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement.

Gilad is expected to submit Israel's vision to an Egyptian ceasefire initiative presented by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarakon Jan. 6 calling for an immediate ceasefire.

On Wednesday, a Hamas delegation presented a detailed vision on the Egyptian-proposed ceasefire initiative following talks with Suleiman in the past days.

Hamas leader Salah al-Bardawil, a member of the Hamas delegation, said at a press conference here on Wednesday evening "We have no difference with Egyptian leadership (on a ceasefire)."

Al-Bardawil said the Egyptian side is waiting for Israel to submit its reaction on the Egyptian initiative, ruling out the possibility of any direct talks between Hamas and Israel.

On Thursday, the Israeli offensive on Gaza has been going on for 20 days, killing some 1,060 Palestinians and wounding more than 4,600 others.

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