JERUSALEM (JTA) — Hamas agreed to a yearlong Gaza truce with Israel proposed by Egypt, an Arabic TV network reported.
The Dubai-based Al-Arabiya satellite network reported Sunday that Hamas representatives would give the terrorist organization’s final answer to the Egyptian initiative in Cairo on Monday.
Reports on the proposed truce in the Israeli media were unconfirmed.
According to the Al-Arabiya report, Hamas agreed to the deployment of Palestinian Authority troops at Gaza border crossings who will coordinate with Hamas. The report said the truce would be launched Thursday.
Israeli officials did not confirm the report, according to Israel Radio.
P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas canceled a planned trip to the Czech Republic and was scheduled to leave Monday for Cairo.
Meanwhile, prime minister hopefuls Tzipi Livni and Ehud Barak argued about signing on to a one-year truce during Sunday’s regular Cabinet meeting.
Barak, the defense minister and Labor Party chief, spoke in favor of the truce, while Livni, the foreign minister and head of the ruling Kadima Party, spoke against it, according to reports.
Barak, Livni and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert were scheduled to meet about the possible truce later Sunday.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
