MIDDLE EAST: Palestinian officials condemned an extensive Israeli sweep for Hamas militants yesterday in the West Bank as an attempt to sabotage truce efforts with the radical Islamic group, but Egyptian officials said talks were on track and that a ceasefire announcement was likely within a few days, Peter Hirschberg Tel Aviv.
"There is a feeling of optimism that something like this will be announced in the next few days," the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr Ahmed Maher, told reporters in Cairo yesterday.
An Israeli intelligence official told the parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee that Hamas leaders had agreed in principle to a three-month cessation of attacks - in Israel as well as in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Egypt, which has been serving as the main mediator in truce talks between the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr Mahmoud Abbas, and militant groups, has been pushing for a six-month ceasefire.
Mr Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader in Gaza, would only say that "the decision will hopefully come very soon". Israel is insisting that a truce negotiated by Mr Abbas cannot serve as a substitute for a crackdown on militant groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as stipulated in the first phase of the US-backed road map peace plan. Mr Abbas however has made it clear he has opted for dialogue over confrontation with the armed militias.
Mr Maher said any truce would fall apart if Israel continued with its military actions in the territories. "It is impossible that calm can be achieved unilaterally while the other side continues its provocative policies that increase difficulties," he said.
The overnight raid by the Israeli army in the West Bank is the type of action to which the Egyptian foreign minister is referring. Troops moved through Hebron early yesterday morning, arresting 117 Palestinians, many of whom were interrogated in an Israeli base on the city's outskirts. Locals said most of those arrested had connections to Hamas or were relatives of Hamas members.
Among those detained were relatives of Abdullah Kawasme, the leader of the group's military wing in the West Bank city, who was killed by Israeli troops in disputed circumstances on Saturday. Another 20 Palestinians were arrested in the West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Nablus and Tul Karm.
Israeli observers suggested the raids were an attempt by the army to net as many Hamas militants as possible before a ceasefire came into effect and its actions were limited.
Palestinian Minister Mr Yasser Abed Rabbo called the raids "an Israeli madness" intended to undermine "any move forward".
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, begins a visit to the Middle East today where his programme will include meetings with regional leaders in Egypt, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.