Tim Blair

Wait! Stop the pixels! They're now claiming that they have not ceased fire!

Regardless of whatever proclamations burble forth from the mouths of these guys, I'll believe it when things stop blowing up.

So, they want a gold star for saying they'll resume homicide bombings on September 24 -- in principle?

Personally, I think Hamas is merely starting to worry that they may all be dead within 90 days.

I'm sure any conflicts between the militants will blow over....

I'm sure any conflicts between the militants will blow over....

One suspects the same is that for the IRA when it agreed to peace, a false peace. In this case,the IDF is successfully killing PLF, Hamas, scum. They need a 3 month break to recruit and train new murdering s.o.b.s. ; which is what the IRA has also been doing.

This is becoming depressingly familiar:

1) Hamas begins "negotiating" w/ the PA and/ or Isreal.
2) Negotiations become bogged down (sometimes after agreement "in principle" is reached).
3) Suicide terrorist attack occurs.
4) Isreal retaliates against Hamas, PA or other culpable entity.
5) Feigning rightous indignation, Hamas claims they were "on the verge" of entering into a ceasefire agreement and/or implying one was already in effect; claim that Isreal violated the "agreement in principle" (which Hamas refuses to commit itself to until it serves its purpose) and announce that this proves no peace can be reached with the infidels/ zionists, et al.
6) Repeat steps 1-6 ad naseum (literally).

Hamas is just following long-established regional precedent: don't stop with the terrorism until you get what you want. Hey, it worked for the Israelis (they got a whole state) and the PLO (to a certain extent - they got the fiefdom known as the PA).

That takes care of Hommus, but what about tabouli?

Exactly Paul - I refuse to eat anything named after a terrorist organisation!

(The rule will hold until some bastards call their terrorist group BEER or something equally important in my life e.g WEETBIX)

The naïve headlines in The Age, SBS, ABC all treated the ceasefire seriously. And they will find a way to pin the blame on Israel. Its just so morally stupid !!!

Its like reporting the headline - "Colombian drug cartels prepare to end to all drug smuggling operations"
Drug cartels EXIST to smuggle drugs.

Hamas EXISTS to kill Israelis - as long as there are members of Hamas, there will be attempted attacks. You don't join Hamas to bring about peace or even security for the Palestinians. You don't slap on a suit and become a diplomat.

Its not a damn country club, its not like they are considering changing one of their recreational activities.

ARGH !!

Israel should never agree to a ceasefire with a genocidal bunch as these Islamazoids. They should be assasinating and killing them night and day, also they should be working on that security wall (which is giving the British Labor Party so much indigestion) 24/7/365.

Strictly from the perspective of America's self interest, I hope Isreal cuts off all further cease-fire negotiations with Hamas and starts hunting them down like the rabid dogs they are. I also hope Sharon issues Abbas an ultimatum: help us hunt down Hamas or screw you an any chance you have of being the leader of the embryonic Palestinian state.

Why? The more Isreal pushes Hamas's back against the wall, the more assistance they will need from their primary benefactor -- Iran. And considering how many balls the Iranian theofascists are juggling right now (assistance to Anti-American Afgan warlords to their east, assistance to Anti-American Iraqi clerics to their west, and pissed off pro-democracy Iranians just about everywhere you turn) the LAST thing the Iranian theofascists needs is a confligration between Isreal and Hamas that the theofascists will have to underwrite.