Hamas officials in response to the political-security cabinet decision on Wednesday stated Israeli is not serious. Terrorist officials stated that Israel speaks of a truce, a halt in hostilities, but simultaneously is preparing for war.

The cabinet following a five-hour meeting announced it was going to give Egyptian negotiators another opportunity to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas but unlike previous ceasefires, the army will be preparing to launch a major incursion into Gaza should the Egyptian initiative fail.

The majority of ministers favor an IDF operation at present, but the �trio�, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are determined to give Egypt another chance.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)