Israel pinning hopes for Hamas deal in Gaza on Egypt intel chief

[Fozzledick]

By Yossi Melman

European leaders have flocked to Israel in support of the Israeli declared cease-fire that Hamas signed onto in a dramatic announcement a day later.

But Israel is more focused on Egyptian intelligence head and the right hand-man of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Minister Omar Suleiman, than it is on the international community.

Suleiman was responsible for the relative success of the tahadiya (cease-fire) agreement, which granted the southern communities six months of quiet until December 19, 2008.

However, he was unable to bridge the gaps between Israel and Hamas in the matter of Gilad Shalit's release. He was also unable to influence Yasser Arafat and Israel to stop the violent cycle of the second intifada and prevent the death of the Oslo Accord.

Nevertheless, Israel now hopes that the Egyptian general will be able to help it work out an "arrangement" with Hamas, the latest whitewashed word generated by the war in Gaza and intended to help Israel appear as one who is not, perish the thought, negotiating with those it defines as a terrorist organization.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1056991.html