Cease-Fire Reached Between Israel and Hamas

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr have announced that a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas had been reached and will begin At 9:00 pm Israeli time tonight (2 pm Eastern Standard Time).

Mrs. Clinton referred to the newly announce agreement as a "critical moment for the region," while acknowledging the role played by Egypt in helping to broker the agreement.

Israel had been holding off on a possible ground attack into Gaza when the notion arose that a ceasefire may be in the offing. It was only after a conversation held between U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that the Israeli PM agreed to give the proposed agreement the opportunity to work.

Obama, who thanked Bibi for agreeing to the cease-fire, also reaffirmed his commitment to Israel's security, and told Netanyahu that he was fully committed to find more funding for Israel’s Iron Dome and other missile defense systems.

In response to news of the ceasefire, David Koschitzky, Chair of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the advocacy arm of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and other Canadian Federations, issued the following statement:

“We are relieved that children living under the shadow of Hamas missile fire may experience the first nights of secure and uninterrupted sleep in a long time. Our hope is that the days ahead will mark the beginning of a long period of quiet.

“The immediate goals of Israel’s military response have been achieved, but the real test will be whether Egypt and others in the region take serious measures to prevent the rearming of Hamas and other terror groups in Gaza. With Iran’s substantial backing, Hamas and their affiliates have become the single greatest obstacle to a peace that would benefit Israelis and Palestinians alike. It is imperative that the international community redouble its efforts to counter Iran’s support for terrorism, and to compel Hamas to abandon the path of violence.”