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Gaza: Israel on Wednesday decided to hold off a large-scale invasion of Gaza to give peace efforts a chance to succeed, but will continue preparations for military action should mediations fail.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Security Cabinet announced the decision to support the Egypt-backed peace efforts after holding talks on Wednesday.
"The Security Cabinet decided this morning to support Egyptian efforts to achieve calm in the south and to end the daily targeting of Israeli civilians by the terrorists in Gaza," Olmert's spokesman, Mark Regev said.
However, the Security Cabinet will pursue preparations for a military operation if the talks do not succeed, he said.
"In parallel, the Security Cabinet has instructed the military to continue its preparations in the unfortunate event that the Egyptian track should prove unsuccessful."
A statement from the Security Cabinet said that Hamas’ release of a hand-written letter by captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit factored into the decision.
It added that Defence Minister Ehud Barak will oversee talks with Egypt.
In response to the statement, Hamas said it was ready for either result, saying Israel was not serious about achieving calm in the region.
"They are preparing for a large-scale attack on Gaza and that makes any talk about giving calm a chance unserious and unreal," a Hamas spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad on Wednesday said he did not believe a peace deal could be achieved by the end of the year.
Fayyad said Israeli settlement-building in the occupied West Bank was hindering negotiations.
Speaking with reporters ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Fayyas said: "I have a strong feeling that is tantamount to certainty that a solution won't be achieved this year.”
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