Abbas to press Olmert to maintain Gaza truce

PALESTIN: Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas was expected to press Ehud Olmert on Monday to maintain a ceasefire in Gaza even though the Israeli Prime Minister accused Hamas of “shattering” the truce.

The two were meeting in Jerusalem for the first time in two months, amid rising tension in and around the besieged Gaza Strip where Israeli forces and Palestinian militants have engaged in almost daily tit-for-tat attacks since November 4.

On Monday morning, at least six rockets fired from the Gaza Strip hit southern Israel without causing any casualties, police said.

Israel has cited the violence in further tightening its blockade and completely sealing off the aid-dependent territory, but said it allowed humanitarian supplies in at one border crossing on Monday for the first time in almost two weeks.

“President Abbas will appeal to Olmert to do everything necessary in order to avert a deterioration of the situation that could worsen the suffering of the Gaza population,” a spokesman for the Palestinian leader told AFP.

Nabil Abu Rudeina made it clear Abbas would press Olmert “to work towards maintaining the truce.”

But Defence Minister Ehud Barak hinted Israel would consider military options if the attacks do not cease. “No one can accept such bombings. If necessary we will act,” army radio quoted him as saying while touring areas bordering Gaza.

Each side has accused the other of violating the ceasefire in the latest flare-up of violence in which volleys of rockets and mortar rounds have been fired at southern Israel and 15 Gaza militants killed since November 4.

Israel said on Sunday it would maintain the closures imposed in response to the violence, but a defence ministry spokesman said some humanitarian supplies would be allowed through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Monday.

A UN spokesman said that many more deliveries will be needed in the impoverished, overcrowded territory where it distributes food to 750,000 people — half the population.

“Once the crossings are open we need to fill to the brim our strategic reserves in Gaza,” said Chris Gunness of the UN Relief and Works Agency. “We also need the 21-million-litre (5.5-million-gallon) storage tanks at the main power plant to be filled up,” he said.

“We cannot have another period when people are not getting their food assistance. We cannot allow people to get punished in that way.”

The tightening of the blockade forced UNRWA to suspend food deliveries in Gaza on Friday and led to a shutdown of the territory’s sole power plant.

Israel imposed the blockade after Hamas seized power in Gaza in June 2007 ousting forces loyal to Abbas, who now holds sway only in the occupied West Bank.

Jerusalem, Monday, AFP