Islamic Jihad: The Gaza ceasefire

Islamic Jihad, a Palenstinian terror organization, announced today that it is redrawing from the ceasefire agrement which was declared between Israel and the Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

Despite 7 rockets that were launched during the week long ceasefire, Israel chose not to respond in order to allow the Palestinian's more time to implement the ceasefire.

Islamic Jihad blamed Israel for the breakup of the ceasefire and threatened to strike at Israel within the next few hours. Islamic Jihad argued that since the ceasefire did not extend to the West Bank, something it blames Israel for, it will not stop its activity within Gaza either.

Islamic Jihad was responsible for many suicide bombings over the years inside Israel and is one of the organizations who made it a habit to launch Kassam rockets from Gaza into Israel.

Islamic Jihad does not recognize the state of Israel and its goal is the establishment of a Muslim state on its territory.

Egyptian court sentences the Taba bombers to death

A specially appointed Egyptian court sentenced today three terrorist to death. The three took part in three simultaneous bombings in Ras Al-Shitan and the Hilton hotel in Taba, both in the Siani desert.
In the attack, an entire wing of the Hilton hotel collapsed. 34 people were killed, 13 of them Israeli citizens.
Egypt make great effort to keep the security in the Siani peninsula as it is a major tourist location and a source of great revenue. Many Israelis frequent the Siani in what best examplifies the peace which exists between Israel and Egypt.
After the Taba bombing, Egypt, in an unprecedented step, allowed IDF soldiers to cross into the Siani and assist in resuce operations.
Al-Qaeda is assumed to be responsible for the bombing.

Bush meets with Iraq's Prime Minister

President Bush met today with Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Al-Maliki. This is part of the American President's visit to the kingdom of Jordan. Jordan is considered a moderate Arab state, has a peace accord with Israel and a border with Iraq. Bush's visit is part of an American campaign to secure local assistance in an effort to stablilize the situation in Iraq.
Pres. Bush refused to give a date for the withdrawl of American troops from Iraq. Bush claims that setting a deadline for a withdrawl would cause unrealistic expectations. He also expressed the view that leaving Iraq while the country is full of terrorists would jeopardize the well-being of Iraqi citizens and provide a boost for the terrorists.
Political analysts believe that part of Bush's visit is dedicated to gain support for his position regarding the issue of Iran's nuclear program. Moderate and secular Arab states have no interest to see the fundamental state of Iran holding such a weapon, as one of its goals is to spread the Islamist revolution which ocurred there in the late 1970's.

Head of Egypt's intelligence service visits Israel

Gen. Omar Suliman, head of Egypt's intelligence service, met today with Israel's security minister, Amir Peretz. The talks dealt primarily with the situation in the Gaza strip and continuing efforts to secure the release of abducted israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. Shalit was abducted by palestinian militants of the Hamas organization a few months ago. Haled Mashal, one of the leaders of Hamas, visited Egypt earlier this week. At the moment Hamas is demanding the release of many prisoners in exchange for Shalit, a price Israel is reluctant to pay. Suliman and Peretz also discussed the ongoing smuggling operations taking place between the Siani desert and the Gaza strip. Egyptian forces guarding the border have not been able to seal it and great quantites of weapons and explosives have been smuggled by palestinian militants since Israel's withdrawl from Gaza in the summer of 2005. Suliman is also scheduled to meet with Israel's PM, Ehud Olmert, and the head of Mossad, Meir Dagan. In Israel, many politicians have expressed outrage at Egypt's ineffective control of the border with Gaza and believe that Egypt can do a lot more.