Israel considering a 48 hour truce under international pressure
The bloody attacks on the Gaza strip conducted by Israel may be halted for a 48 hour period as international powers pressurize Israel to give the Palestinians a break. The four day air campaign that was launched in retaliation of the rocket attacks has been the deadliest military campaign pursued against the Palestinians in decades. 
The foreign minister of France proposed the 48 hour cease fire which has been taken under consideration by the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The Israeli government officials have gotten together to discuss the proposal along with other steps that can be taken to curb the current situation. The details of the discussions have not yet been made public.
Leaders of the Middle East have been called upon by the American President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in order to put forward for a long lasting solution to the problem starting from an immediate truce.
The Quartet of world powers also conducted a conference the outcome of which was the proposal of the 48 hour cease fire. The international powers that are exercising their pressure for a cease fire include the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia.
Based on humanitarian grounds the European Union has urged Israel to reopen its borders with the Gaza strip in order to allow medical aid and food supplies to go through to the suffering Palestinians. The statement made by Paris has not focused on blaming a particular side for giving rise to the current problem at hand.
The Israeli government on the other hand has been conducting talks focusing on initiating a ground offensive. They plan to draw upon 2500 reserve soldiers in case they decide to launch the ground operation. A call up of 67000 soldiers was issued earlier this week.
A four hour meeting was conducted between the Israeli officials responsible for making the calls but no details of the meetings were made public as the issue at hand is very sensitive. It has however been released on the basis on anonymity that Israel wants a solid word from Hamas that it would put an end to the rocket attacks and then only would Israel agree to a truce. While the talks of a truce circulated amongst the conference tables Israeli airplanes continued their carpet bombing on the Gaza strip.
Israeli government seeking a workable strategy against Hamas
Renewed rocket attacks by Hamas have triggered the Israeli government to consider taking tough military action against the group. The government feels as though it is under great pressure to step up its actions against Hamas as the group tries to plunder the Israeli election campaign.
More than twenty rockets and mortar bombs have struck the soil of Southern Israel in just two days after the end of the six month truce between Israel and Hamas. Hamas stepped up its attacks as the Israelis conducted a cabinet meeting on how to best deal with the militant groups that are currently in control of the Gaza strip. The meeting however brought to light the differences that exist within the Kadima party that is in power.
Having initiated the war against Hizbollah in Lebanon in 2006 it was ironic to find Ehud Olmert suggesting the government to passively wait and see what happens in Gaza. He said “a responsible government doesn’t rush into battle, neither does it shy away”. He also urged the government not to make overly bold statements but found foreign minister Tzipi Livini vowing to topple the Hamas regime making use of military, economic and diplomatic measures.
The foreign minister shares the mindset of the hard line Likud Party Leader Benjamin Netanyahu who has been foremost in calling for military action against Hamas. Netanyahu said the militant groups defeat was going to come sooner or later. He was reported as saying “In the long-term, we will have to topple the Hamas regime. In the short-term … there are a wide range of possibilities, from doing nothing to doing everything, meaning to conquer Gaza.”
There is a great deal of uncertainty regarding the kind of military efforts that will be required in order to stop the rocket attacks from Hamas. The government seems to be divided in its opinion and confused as to how to go about dealing with Hamas. They admitted not having a workable strategy against Hamas at the moment but are intent on coming to common terms within itself and develop an effective strategy against Hamas.