In Gaza Conflict, A Surprise Truce Is Announced

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The New York Sun

JERUSALEM — A glimmer of hope for peace between Palestinian Arabs and Israelis emerged yesterday from the ruins of Gaza after the leaders of both sides announced a surprise truce.

The deal took effect in the morning, as the Israeli army pulled out of the Gaza Strip, where it has killed about 400 Palestinian Arabs in five months.

In return, militants among Gaza’s 1.4 million population agreed to stop firing rockets at Israel. The deal even survived an early breach, after half a dozen Palestinian Arab rockets landed in Israel. It was unclear if the attacks were an attempt by disgruntled extremists to shatter the cease-fire, or a measure of the chaos among Gaza’s many armed groups.

But Prime Minister Olmert of Israel promised not to react to the breaches, even suggesting that the truce could prove the foundation of a much more substantial deal between the two sides.

Any cease-fire declaration looked unlikely only days ago, as Israel’s security cabinet considered stepping up military operations in Gaza.

The homemade rockets are more terrifying than deadly, but they have killed two Israelis recently and proved a political thorn in the side of Mr. Olmert’s government.


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