SIGNS THAT HAMAS MAY BE READY TO THROW IN THE TOWEL

HAMAS WANTS A CEASE-FIRE AND ANNOUNCES THEY'RE SENDING A DELEGATION TO CAIRO:

TVNZ:

Hamas plans to send a delegation to Egypt for the first diplomatic talks since the launch of a 10-day-old Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, an official of the Islamist group said.

Hamas official Ayman Taha said a Hamas delegation would head to Cairo answering an Egyptian invitation to hold discussions.

A senior Palestinian official said on Friday that Egypt had launched contacts with Hamas to achieve a truce.

The Hamas visit to Egypt would coincide with the expected visit there of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has also launched a European-backed diplomatic push for a ceasefire.

HAARETZ:

Israel would like to see a diplomatic agreement bring the military operation in the Gaza Strip to an end - so long as the deal excludes Hamas, according to a decision made yesterday by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his Foreign and Defense ministers, Tzipi Livni and Ehud Barak.

Israeli leadership will convey that message to visiting European statesmen today, stressing that an agreement on the Gaza Strip should include both regional and international components.

Olmert is scheduled to meet today with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and Livni will meet with a troika of foreign ministers from the European Union.

In addition to the foreign ministers of Sweden, France and the Czech Republic, which currently holds the rotating presidency, two senior officials charged with EU foreign policy, Javier Solana and Benita Ferrero-Waldner will also attend the meeting.

HERE'S MY READ:

• HAMAS IS GETTING WHAT'S COMING TO THEM, AND THEY DON'T LIKE IT.

• BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DEFEAT ISRAEL IN A HEAD-TO-HEAD FIGHT, THEY MUST NOW PLEAD FOR A CEASE-FIRE.

THE TERMS SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

• HAMAS RESIGNS FROM GAZA'S GOVERNMENT
• ANOTHER ELECTION IS HELD QUICKLY IN GAZA -
• AN ELECTION IN WHICH ONLY NON-MILITARIZED/NON-ARMED PARTIES MAY BE ON THE BALLOT.

EITHER HAMAS VERIFIABLY DISARMS, OR THEY CANNOT BE IN THE ELECTION OR IN GAZA GOVERNMENT.

BLAIR MADE THIS A CONDITION FOR THE IRA IN NORTHERN IRELAND; IT SHOULD BE ONE FOR GAZA SELF-RULE, TOO.

REPEAT: THE TERMS OF ANY CEASE-FIRE SHOULD BE THAT

• HAMAS RESIGNS,
• CALLS FOR ANOTHER ANOTHER ELECTION IN GAZA -
• ONE IN WHICH ONLY NON-MILITARIZED/NON-ARMED PARTIES MAY BE ON THE BALLOT.

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST.