Haaretz Editorial : Maintaining the cease-fire

This is about the most rational piece I have read on the truce

The Qassams that have continued to land in Israel since the cease-fire agreement have given rise to the feeling that the cease-fire is about to collapse.

However, before the government turns to canceling the deals that were struck, it is essential to distinguish between the aims that were set and the ability to fulfill all of them at once. When Israel decided to sign the cease-fire agreement with Hamas and the other Palestinian organizations, the working assumption was that those organizations would honor their commitment and compel other splinter organizations to keep the same commitment, even by force.

Alongside all this, Hamas' public effort to fully keep its commitment is evident. The Hamas mufti has called anyone who fires a Qassam a "criminal," and its leadership is declaring that the Qassams damage Palestinian interests. While other organizations have not condemned the firing, they have stressed they are sticking to the deal.

This is why the cease-fire is based on two stages, and the first stage has been extended for six months. This does not mean Israel must sit on its hands and do nothing for six months, absorbing Qassams with no response just so the cease-fire will be observed on its part. However, it must allow the Palestinians the opportunity to enforce the agreement, without playing into the hands of gangs or splinter organizations, thereby crushing the responsible party in Gaza at the moment.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1000068.html

btw, I'd really like to see an end to the provocations from those on both sides who want to see the ceasefire fail...

rockets have been launched and the Israelis have NOT responded in Gaza would indicate they are doing what you think they should so far. In fact, a Hamas spokesman has announced the truce is over (see the Peres thread.) Israel has made no such announcement.

What do you call firing warning shots at Palestinian farmers? I'd be calling that provocation as well as being a violation of the ceasefire....

And Israel has responded. Anyone who reads this forum would have noticed that Israel has been responding by closing the crossings. I know some folk like to see things in black and white 'my side is totally innocent of anything' terms, but the reality is that there's been provocations and violations of the ceasefire on both sides by those who want to see it end, not just one side as the one-sided folk would have us believe...

truce was over; not Israel, so the issue of who is more willing to continue to try is obvious.

you totally ignored the fact that he also said that negotiations for the release of Gilad Shalit were still ongoing, so Hamas "declares" the truce over but is still in talks for that, right......

However the Headline reads a bit differently now

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum tells infolive tv truce on verge collapsing

http://www.infolive.tv/en/infolive.tv-25273-israelnews-hamas-spokesman-fawzi-barhoum-tells-infolive-tv-truce-verge-collapsi

on this
What do you call firing warning shots at Palestinian farmers? I'd be calling that provocation as well as being a violation of the ceasefire....

Since when does Israel have the right to restrict the movement of the people o Gaza within their own territory? Israeli's are allowed to farm close to border, as Sundays non-story about a bullet fired at an Israeli farmer, which turned out to be a rock that was most likely thrown from the Israeli farmers own tractor.
Israels reasons are once again security or "they might be planting bombs" even so if that is indeed what they are doing they are planting them in Gaza not Israel, why is Israel so concerned about bombs planted in Palestinian territory? As to Kassam launching the area is open and I am sure under close surveillance.

bombs next to fence have killed/wounded israelis in the past....

kassams are launched from built up areas as well as open areas...

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bombs next to fence on which side? I was not talking about bombs in Israel but in Gaza, so how are these bombs killing Israelis in Israel? If Israel wants a security area should it not be on Israels side of the border?

As to Kassam's which I did mention you are saying Israel does not have the area under surveillance? Seems a bit remiss to me.

but near or just next to the fence could easily kill soldiers patrolling on the "Israeli side", along a guard path for instance. The fence has to be guarded and maintained after all, sensors have to be replaced and repaired, I'm sure that there are many times that IDF soldiers would find themselves with only a single line of fencing between themselves and the "Palestinian side."

Besides, it isn't as if Israel shot these people who approached the fence, is it? They fired warning shots. It isn't as if people don't know that they are not supposed to approach the fence. And it isn't like Israel doesn't have a very good reason to enforce this restriction... terrorists do plant bombs there. Now maybe it was just an accident. Maybe it was a test. Either way no one was hurt, they were just warned.

I wouldn't consider warning shots to be provocations. Firing Qassams. Planting IEDs. These are provocations. Warning shots, rubber bullets, slingshots or thrown stones are not.