Israel shows signs of an end

For the first time since it began its offensive on December 27, Israel has signalled that it might be winding down its offensive in Gaza amid fierce resistance offered by the Palestinian group Hamas which continued to fire rockets into Israel on Sunday.

“The decision of the (UN) Security Council doesn’t give us much leeway,” Israel’s Deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnai told public radio. “Thus it would seem that we are close to ending the ground operation and ending the operation altogether.”

Earlier, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel was close to achieving its operational objectives, but did not elaborate. Analysts point out that Mr. Olmert’s remarks have been met with considerable scepticism in West Asia. Israel’s Defence Minister Ehud Barak had said at a security cabinet meeting on January 5 that Israel was “striving for a new reality in which there won’t be activity from Gaza against Israeli civilians or our soldiers.”

With time apparently running out, Israeli troops and Hamas fighters were engaged in fierce battles on Sunday. Fighting was concentrated in and around Gaza city. ]

Israeli troops in the early hours encountered roadside bombs, mortar and gunfire from Palestinian fighters in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood, witnesses said. They withdrew at day-break as panic spread in the area. Israeli planes had earlier dropped leaflets asking people to leave ahead of possible attacks. At least 885 people have been killed, including 275 children, and another 3,620 wounded, since the war began more than a fortnight ago.

Egypt’s role

Israel on Sunday agreed to an Egyptian policing role along the Gaza-Egyptian border, saying that deployment of an international force there was not necessary. Egypt had earlier opposed the presence of an international force along Egypt’s border with Gaza.

European and Israeli diplomats had so far maintained that an international force is part of a package to end the conflict in Gaza. Israel’s top Defence official, Amos Gilad, told Israel Radio on Sunday that the Egyptians were capable of addressing Israeli security concerns.

“There’s no doubt Egypt has a superb military and security forces which can tackle all the undesirable phenomena from a security standpoint. No one can compete with this.”

Mr. Gilad is expected to travel on Monday to Egypt, which is already negotiating a ceasefire plan with Hamas as well as representatives from Syria and Turkey.

On Saturday, leaders of ten Palestinian factions based in Damascus, including Hamas, had issued a statement that they rejected “the presence of any international forces or observers in the Gaza Strip or any security arrangements that undermine the resistance.” The Hamas’ defiance coincided with a wave of anti-Israel protests which drew tens of thousand of demonstrators worldwide.