Fatah and Hamas agreed on ceasefire

According to Palestinian reports, Hamas and Fatah managed to agree on a ceasefire.

The talks between the two factions were chaperoned by Egyptian officials and an agreement was concluded a short while ago. It is hoped that the agreement would prove lasting and that all violence shall cease. A third man was killed earler in the Gaza Strip as skirmishes continued.

The dead man was a Fatah officer who was gunned down by several masked men.

No reason to hold negotiations with Syria

According to a top aide of PM, Ehud Olmert, there is not reason to hold negotiations with Syria at this time. The aide said that the preliminary conditions of Israel had already been passed to Syria which has done nothing towards fulfilling them. In fact, Syria is supposedly placing spokes in the wheels of the efforts to establish a national unity government in the Palestinian Territories and delivers arms to Hezbollah or does nothing to stop arms from flowing to the Lebanese terror group through its borders. The aide also doubted whether such negotiations will prompt Syria to sever its ties with Iran and allow its removal from Bush's Axis of Evil.
Olmert had earlier today expressed the view that Israel should not start negotiations with Syria when President Bush refuses to talk to Syria himself.



Editorial note: Syria was not originally a member of Bush's Axis of Evil

Continued Riots in Gaza

Shots were fired on a Fatah demonstration in the North of Gaza. A few people were injured in what became a mass Fatah protest, numbering in the tens of thousands.

Earlier, 4,000 soldiers of the Presidential Guard and the al-akza brigades took control of the agriculture and transportation offices in Gaza in what the Hamas calls a military coup. Hamas appointed FM, Mahmoud al-Zahar declared in a press conference that if the offices are not vacated, the infiltrators will be disarmed and arrested.

In other skirmishes in Gaza at least 2 people were killed and a yet unclear number were injured.

Mortars fired in Gaza

A mortar bomb was fired on the Palestinian Television building in Gaza.
A second mortar was fired on the the residence of President Abu Mazen in Gaza.
A few Palestinians were killed. Abu Mazen is not in Gaza at all at the moment.
A third mortar was fired on the home of a Fatah officer.
Earlier today a Fatah post was burned and shot were fired on Hamas appointed FM al-Zahar.
Sporadic fighting between Hamas and Fatah operatives continue in Gaza and the West Bank.

Further details will be reported when available.

Hamas will boycot early elections

According to reports made by the Palestinian Foreign Office, an assassination attempt was made today on the life of Hamas appointed FM, Mahmoud al-Zahar. The reports stated that shots were fired at the car he was riding but he emerged unscathed. Al-Zahar's guards returned fire. Hamas blames Fatah for the attempt.
PM Haniyeh responded today to president's Abu Mazen speech of yesterday and announced that Hamas will not take part in an early election. This despite certain polls in the Palestinian Territories which show that Haniyeh trails Abu Mazen by a single point.
Yesterday, over 20 people were injured in fightings between Fatah and Hamas supporters.

Differing voices regarding Syria in Israel's government

Israel's PM, Ehud Olmert, exhibited doubts as to the honesty of Syria's peace overtures and reminded the public that even the German FM left Assad "disappointed" after their recent meeting.
Taking the opposite view is Amir Peretz, Israel's Security Minister, who said that Syria's statements should be examined with care and that the appropriate discussions should be made.
Olmert found support in the chairman of the religious party Shas, minister Eli Yishay, who said that Assad made a virtual statement and Israel should be wary of the trap he is laying for her.

Olmert: Not to respond to Abu Mazen's speech

Israel's PM, Ehud Olmert, directed his cabinet ministers to refrain from responding or expressing their view regarding Abu Mazen's speech in which he announced his desire to call for an early election. Olmert said that any such response will only weaken Abu Mazen in the Palestinian arena as he is already accused by Hamas as a collaborator of Israel. Israel hopes that this move by Abu Mazen will prove a step in the path to renewed negotiations.

In internal news: former FM and runner up in the Likud primary, Silvan Shalom, gave an interview today in which he said that the Likud should hold an early primary and elect a new leader to rehabilitate the party which took a heavy beating in the last general elections. Shalom who lost the former primary to Benjamen Netanyahu, plans to run again.