Press voices scepticism over Gaza truce

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Israeli, Palestinian and Middle Eastern papers have expressed doubt over whether the ceasefire reached between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza can last for long.

Most commentators feel that the truce - mediated by Egypt after four days of Israeli air strikes and rocket fire from Gaza that left at least 25 Palestinians dead and dozens of Israelis injured - is unlikely to bring more than a temporary lull in the cycle of violence.

Several commentators also point wearily to the entrenched nature of the conflict in the region.

<h2 class="section-header" id="heading-1">ISRAELI PRESS</h2>Roni Shaked in Yediot Aharonot

When will the next round of violence erupt? This is only a matter of time. A ceasefire, like all the tahdiahs [calm agreements] in recent years that did not hold, is a respite between rounds of violence. After the current round, it is also clear that Israel cannot show restraint vis-a-vis new terror plots that will be planned in Gaza. Also, [Islamic] Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees cannot show restraint for long. They will exploit this respite to renew their stock of rockets and prepare for the next round.

Yoav Limor in Yisrael Hayom

The five recent days fighting in Gaza changed nothing fundamentally… One can say with certainty that the next round will regrettably come very soon.

Yaakov Katz in Jerusalem Post

Israel and Islamic Jihad reached a tenuous ceasefire on Tuesday, which both sides know will likely not last longer than a few months... What we are facing are short rounds of violence like in April, August, October, and now this week, followed by a period of quiet. Another round, another period of quiet.

<h2 class="section-header" id="heading-2">PALESTINIAN PRESS</h2>Fayiz Abu Shammalah in Gaza-based Hamas-run Filastin

We thank Egypt for not leaving the Palestinians in Gaza to face the Israeli aggression alone. So, it intervened and used all its power to stop the aggression... But no thanks are due to Egypt as a mediator between the flesh of the Arab Palestinians and the spears of the Zionist enemy... How can a loving mother be happy to mediate when the teeth of the Zionist wolf are making its child bleed?

Editorial in Jerusalem-based pro-Fatah Al-Quds

If it is true that the reason for the raids [on Gaza] was to test the so-called Iron Dome [anti-rocket] system, then this was treating Palestinian and Israeli lives as if they counted for nothing... In any case, the aggression on Gaza was unjustified and the world should have stopped it on the first day.

<h2 class="section-header" id="heading-3">MIDDLE EAST PRESS</h2>Editorial in UAE's Al-Bayan

The mediation is not new as Egypt has always led the way in attempts to reach calm. These are not new because they always follow attacks by the Occupation [Israel] on the Palestinian people. If we look at the fate of previous understandings, Israel is certain to violate the present agreement. In fact, the signs of this violation appeared [on 13 March], hours after a truce was announced...

Editorial in Qatar's Al-Rayah

The lesson the Palestinian resistance groups should learn is that the Egyptian-sponsored truce, which managed to stop the aggression and the assassinations, is temporary. The resistance groups should prepare for another round, which might be tougher and bloodier, with an [Israeli government] that does not care about any ethical or humanitarian values... The Palestinian people will not rely on this truce. They do not trust the Israeli occupation and they have a bitter experience of it.

Editorial in Jordan's Al-Dustour

From our follow-up and reading of the Zionist aggression record, we can definitely assert that the ceasefire between the enemy [Israel] and the Palestinian resistance in Gaza, which was sponsored by sisterly Egypt, is temporary and will not last long... The first sign of going back on this agreement is the words of [Israeli] General Amos Gilad, when he announced that the agreement does not include the assassinations of Palestinian leaders. This is a flagrant move which confirms the devious intent of the Zionist enemy, and confirms that it will continue its blatant aggression.

Ali Totmaj in Iran's Hemayat

They [Gaza residents] are fighting against several enemies: the Zionist regime, compromising Arab countries that support the Zionists with their silence... and the Western countries. The Western countries apparently condemn the Zionists' attacks but do not take any practical steps [to help the people of Gaza], and instead provide weapons to the Zionists.

<a href="http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk/" >BBC Monitoring</a><em> selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.</em>