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Israelis and Palestinians Agree to Lengthen Cease-Fire Israelis and Palestinians Agree to Lengthen Cease-Fire
(7 days later)
JERUSALEM — Israeli and Palestinian officials agreed late Monday to extend a five-day cease-fire for Gaza that expired at midnight for 24 hours, reflecting the difficulty of reaching more durable agreements after two weeks of Egyptian-brokered talks but also an apparent lack of appetite on either side to resume the conflict.  JERUSALEM — Israeli and Palestinian officials agreed late Monday to extend a five-day cease-fire for Gaza that expired at midnight for 24 hours, reflecting the difficulty of reaching more durable agreements after two weeks of Egyptian-brokered talks but also an apparent lack of appetite on either side to resume the conflict. 
Azzam al-Ahmed, the head of the Palestinian delegation in Cairo, said in a statement, “The negotiations were supposed to end today, but the maneuvers of the Israeli delegation have prevented until now any progress.”Azzam al-Ahmed, the head of the Palestinian delegation in Cairo, said in a statement, “The negotiations were supposed to end today, but the maneuvers of the Israeli delegation have prevented until now any progress.”
He added, “We hope that the next 24 hours will lead to an agreement or the circle of violence will continue.”He added, “We hope that the next 24 hours will lead to an agreement or the circle of violence will continue.”
The Israeli government issued a statement around midnight saying the cease-fire would be extended “at Egypt’s request” to allow for negotiations to continue. Israeli officials have refused to comment on the content or progress of the talks.The Israeli government issued a statement around midnight saying the cease-fire would be extended “at Egypt’s request” to allow for negotiations to continue. Israeli officials have refused to comment on the content or progress of the talks.
The main demands of Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, are a complete lifting of the economic blockade on the Palestinian coastal enclave, allowing the free movement of people and goods in and out, the creation of a seaport, and the reconstruction of a long-defunct airport. Israel wants full demilitarization, a process that would strip Hamas, whose name is an Arabic acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement, and other groups, of their weapons and prevent rearmament.The main demands of Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, are a complete lifting of the economic blockade on the Palestinian coastal enclave, allowing the free movement of people and goods in and out, the creation of a seaport, and the reconstruction of a long-defunct airport. Israel wants full demilitarization, a process that would strip Hamas, whose name is an Arabic acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement, and other groups, of their weapons and prevent rearmament.
The conflicting demands reflected the sides’ broader agendas. Hamas wants to be able to show its people a clear achievement after a month of fighting that left more than 1,900 Palestinians dead and caused widespread devastation. Israel, in contrast, does not want Hamas to be rewarded in any way after a war in which 64 soldiers and three civilians were killed and Gaza militants launched more than 3,300 rockets and mortar rounds against Israel.The conflicting demands reflected the sides’ broader agendas. Hamas wants to be able to show its people a clear achievement after a month of fighting that left more than 1,900 Palestinians dead and caused widespread devastation. Israel, in contrast, does not want Hamas to be rewarded in any way after a war in which 64 soldiers and three civilians were killed and Gaza militants launched more than 3,300 rockets and mortar rounds against Israel.
Israeli and Palestinian analysts were skeptical that the maximal demands of either side would be met in the foreseeable future.Israeli and Palestinian analysts were skeptical that the maximal demands of either side would be met in the foreseeable future.
“Concessions come with a high political cost for both sides,” said Ghassan Khatib, vice president of Birzeit University in the West Bank and a former spokesman for the Palestinian Authority government, “but it is equally costly for either side to resume that level of fierce confrontation.”“Concessions come with a high political cost for both sides,” said Ghassan Khatib, vice president of Birzeit University in the West Bank and a former spokesman for the Palestinian Authority government, “but it is equally costly for either side to resume that level of fierce confrontation.”
Mr. Khatib cast doubt on the prospects of reaching more ambitious, longer-term agreements, saying, “The positions are not reconcilable.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel “is not in a position to give concessions to Hamas that appear to give it political gains,” he said, “and it will be very embarrassing for Hamas to be part of agreements that don’t end the closure after all the sacrifice.”Mr. Khatib cast doubt on the prospects of reaching more ambitious, longer-term agreements, saying, “The positions are not reconcilable.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel “is not in a position to give concessions to Hamas that appear to give it political gains,” he said, “and it will be very embarrassing for Hamas to be part of agreements that don’t end the closure after all the sacrifice.”
Shaul Shay, a former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council, said the longer-term demands “need negotiation and, in my opinion, outside involvement.” He added, “They are not something to achieve in hours or days.”Shaul Shay, a former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council, said the longer-term demands “need negotiation and, in my opinion, outside involvement.” He added, “They are not something to achieve in hours or days.”
On the other hand, he said, “There are tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, in Gaza who need help, and their timetable is not in sync with that of long-term agreements. The humanitarian clock is ticking faster than the political-diplomatic one. Israel is aware of that.”On the other hand, he said, “There are tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, in Gaza who need help, and their timetable is not in sync with that of long-term agreements. The humanitarian clock is ticking faster than the political-diplomatic one. Israel is aware of that.”
Robert Serry, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, told the Security Council on Monday that the destruction in Gaza was so severe that large-scale reconstruction, with the involvement of the Palestinian Authority and the private sector, was needed.Robert Serry, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, told the Security Council on Monday that the destruction in Gaza was so severe that large-scale reconstruction, with the involvement of the Palestinian Authority and the private sector, was needed.
“The basic equation must consist of ending the blockade on Gaza, and addressing Israel’s legitimate security concerns,” he said, adding that the United Nations had a way to monitor that construction materials entering Gaza for United Nations projects be exclusively for civilian use, and was ready to explore how to expand that system. Israel has accused Hamas of diverting cement meant for civilian projects to build an extensive network of tunnels, including several running into Israeli territory that were used for attacks on soldiers during the recent conflict. “The basic equation must consist of ending the blockade on Gaza, and addressing Israel’s legitimate security concerns,” he said, adding that the United Nations had a way to monitor that construction materials entering Gaza for United Nations projects be exclusively for civilian use, and was ready to explore how to expand that system. Israel has accused Hamas of diverting cement meant for civilian projects to build an extensive network of tunnels, including several running into Israeli territory that were used for attacks on soldiers during the recent conflict. 
“Right now, Gaza urgently needs houses, hospitals and schools — not rockets, tunnels and conflict,” Mr. Serry added.“Right now, Gaza urgently needs houses, hospitals and schools — not rockets, tunnels and conflict,” Mr. Serry added.
Hours before the announcement in Cairo of the 24-hour extension of the cease-fire, Mr. Netanyahu warned Hamas that Israel was “ready for any scenario.”Hours before the announcement in Cairo of the 24-hour extension of the cease-fire, Mr. Netanyahu warned Hamas that Israel was “ready for any scenario.”
Illustrating the abiding security jitters in southern Israel, the authorities suspended train service to Sderot, the town nearest the Gaza border, on Monday until further notice because of the continued threat from antitank missiles.Illustrating the abiding security jitters in southern Israel, the authorities suspended train service to Sderot, the town nearest the Gaza border, on Monday until further notice because of the continued threat from antitank missiles.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished the Hebron homes of two Palestinians suspected of being behind the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in June, and sealed the home of a third, also in Hebron. Only one of the suspects is in custody. Court documents stated that he orchestrated the attack and bought weapons for it with money from Hamas operatives.In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished the Hebron homes of two Palestinians suspected of being behind the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in June, and sealed the home of a third, also in Hebron. Only one of the suspects is in custody. Court documents stated that he orchestrated the attack and bought weapons for it with money from Hamas operatives.
An Israeli clampdown in the West Bank during the search for the teenagers prompted increased rocket fire from Gaza and an escalation that led to the latest conflict. An Israeli clampdown in the West Bank during the search for the teenagers prompted increased rocket fire from Gaza and an escalation that led to the latest conflict. 
The practice of demolishing homes has been criticized by human rights groups as collective punishment.The practice of demolishing homes has been criticized by human rights groups as collective punishment.
Also Monday, the Israeli military and the Shin Bet internal security agency said in a statement that over the past three months they had uncovered “an extensive Hamas terror infrastructure” operating in Jerusalem and the West Bank. The statement said that 93 operatives were detained, 46 of whom were taken for further investigation, and that a senior Hamas figure in Turkey stood at the head of the network. Also Monday, the Israeli military and the Shin Bet internal security agency said in a statement that over the past three months they had uncovered “an extensive Hamas terror infrastructure” operating in Jerusalem and the West Bank. The statement said that 93 operatives were detained, 46 of whom were taken for further investigation, and that a senior Hamas figure in Turkey stood at the head of the network. 
The authorities said the network “intended to execute a series of deadly attacks against Israel, undermining security and stability in the region and ultimately planning to overthrow the Palestinian Authority.”The authorities said the network “intended to execute a series of deadly attacks against Israel, undermining security and stability in the region and ultimately planning to overthrow the Palestinian Authority.”
Hamas and its main rival, the mainstream Fatah faction, which dominates the Palestinian Authority, recently signed a reconciliation pact meant to heal a seven-year schism between the West Bank and Gaza. Hamas and its main rival, the mainstream Fatah faction, which dominates the Palestinian Authority, recently signed a reconciliation pact meant to heal a seven-year schism between the West Bank and Gaza.