Gaza truce 'shaky after raids'

The Israeli army arrested 16 Palestinian militants today in raids across the West Bank, despite a decision by the military to scale back operations in order to bolster a fragile truce in the Gaza Strip.

Although the ceasefire agreement does not cover the West Bank, militants in Gaza have repeatedly threatened to break the truce and launch a wave of reprisal attacks because of Israeli military operations there.

“I wouldn’t rule out ending the ceasefire in a few short days if the enemy continues like this,” said Hamas spokesman Abu Obeideh said.

Israel and the Palestinians agreed to the truce just over a week ago, ending five months of widespread fighting in Gaza and leading to hopes that it was only the first step in a new round of peace efforts between the two sides.

Since the truce took effect, Gaza militants have launched 16 home-made Qassam rockets into Israel, the army said, causing no casualties and little damage – 11 in the first hours of the truce. One was fired today.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee that the government would react with restraint to the continuing attacks, adding that the rocket fire did not cease during Israel’s military operations in Gaza, either.

“It was clear that there would not be an absolute halt to hostilities, but we must remember that until now we haven’t found an alternative formula to stop the rocket fire and weapons smuggling,” he said, referring to the militants’ efforts to bring in weapons from Egypt.

“We will fully explore every possibility that can lead to momentum to begin a diplomatic process, and so we are now giving the truce a chance,” he said, according to participants in the meeting.

In an effort to bolster the ceasefire, senior military officials said hey had decided to reduce their West Bank operations, allowing only regional or division commanders to order arrest raids, instead of the lower-ranking brigade commanders.

The army was ordered to take precautions so that ”uncalled for incidents don’t develop in Judea and Samaria,” said senior Labour Party legislator Danny Yatom, a member of the parliamentary committee, referring to the West Bank by its biblical names.

“But there is absolutely no Israeli commitment not to take military action against terror threats” there, he added.

Early today after the army decision, troops arrested 15 militants in raids across the West Bank, the army said. Later another militant, wanted since 2001, was arrested in Bethlehem, the army said.

Palestinian officials called for an end to the raids.

“We urge (Israel) to stop arrests, incursions, and to give the ceasefire the chance it deserves,” said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.

Israeli officials expressed concern that militants in Gaza were using the truce to rearm with weapons smuggled through tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border. And several analysts predicted that Israel might have to launch an all-out offensive in Gaza to try to crush the militants.

“We must not delude ourselves. We have to examine whether the quiet is just on the surface, at a time when certain elements are rearming. If so, we simply must not accept it,” said lawmaker Israel Hasson of the hard-line Yisrael Beitenu, a member of Olmert’s ruling coalition.

Meanwhile, members of the Hamas-led Palestinian government said that Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh had managed to collect tens of millions of dollars during his current trip abroad, which could help the government weather crippling international sanctions against it. Western nations have refused to give the government money unless Hamas renounces violence and recognises Israel, which it refuses to do.

Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, of Hamas, said Haniyeh received a pledge from Qatar to pay the salaries of teachers in Gaza.

It was unclear how the money would be brought to Gaza. In recent weeks, some Palestinian officials have hand-carried large amounts of cash in their luggage when they cross into Gaza from Egypt.