BREAKING: CEASEFIRE!?? (MAYBE)

I just saw this on FaceBook from a friend in Modi'in (in Israel) and then got this Headline in Haaretz: Ceasefire to go into effect at Midnight

HOWEVER... I am not seeing detailed info. on it. There was this:

The head of Hamas' political bureau and Islamic Jihad secretary-general plan to meet with Egyptian intelligence chief Gen. Raafat Shehata again on Tuesday, in an attempt to finalize details of a cease-fire agreement. The talks in Cairo, which are being led by Shehata, are expected to be decisive. The Israeli delegates to the talks plan to return to Cairo today to present Israel's response to demands being made by Hamas. Senior Egyptian officials told Haaretz that the sides are very close, but that some more flexibility is needed from the Israeli side.

YNET is reporting it on their news feed but there as well... there are no details. At the same there seems to be an active trade of fire into the evening as both sides are "Getting their shots" in, while they can.

The German FM met with officials in Egypt after meeting with government officials in Israel and it is thought that the Germans are able to present Israeli amendments and concerns for the cease-fire.

YNET is also reporting that in a MENA story the Egyptian President Morsi was saying:

"President Mohamed Morsi announced that the farce of Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip will end on Tuesday," MENA said, quoting public remarks made by the country's head of state after the funeral of his sister. 

"The efforts to conclude a truce between the Palestinian and Israeli sides will produce positive results in the next few hours," he was quoted as saying.Egypt has been trying to mediate a truce to end the conflict.

There was this:

6:14 P.M. Hamas official: Gaza truce to be declared at 9 P.M., go into effect midnight, Israel time (Avi Issacharoff)

As of Right now:

7:01 P.M. Israeli official says truce deal with Gaza militants not yet finalized, 'ball still in play' (Barak Ravid)

On a personal note... I do very much hope for a cease fire, but, I more hope that the ceasefire will lead to some kind of permanent solution. Simply put, "kicking the can down the road" just doesn't and will not work. BOTH sides need to understand this. How many more people need to die, or how many more people need to have their lives wrecked by PTSD caused by this fighting?

In any case - please stay tuned and I will try to keep this updated as I see more info.

UPDATE 7:35 PM: 7:35 P.M. Palestinian and Egyptian officials are now saying that there is still no agreement on a cease-fire. (Haaretz)

10:58 AM PT: Hamas is claiming it will "Continue FIring until the Last Moment". I would expect the Israelis have the same philosophy

12:02 PM PT: CEASE FIRE IS OFF! ACCORDING TO YNET: Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq twitted that Egypt is the only one that can announce a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the factions in Gaza. Any statements made about such a deal prior to an official announcement is irresponsible, he said. (Elior Levy)

12:13 PM PT: From: http://www.ynetnews.com/...
Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq twitted that an agreement over a ceasefire between Israel and the factions in Gaza has yet to be reached, adding that such a deal won't be struck on Tuesday night. (Roi Kais)

12:23 PM PT: Haaretz Reporting: 10:09 P.M. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in Israel, to hold joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at 11 P.M. (Haaretz) http://www.haaretz.com/...

12:46 PM PT: From Haaretz: 10:25 P.M. Hamas postpones planned Cairo press conference on cease-fire with Israel (Avi issacharoff)

Today We Had A Rocket Attack

My Israel journey continues.  I am staying for two days in an Air BNB rental that is almost a palace, in the Old City of Beersheva.  I think it was built during Turkish times.

Today was my first experience on Israeli roads, as I rented a car and drove to the Dead Sea and Masada.  It was around 110 degrees F at the Dead Sea, hot even for me.  I did the usual floating, and then enjoyed the spectacular views from Masada.  I also drank, by my count, a gallon of water.

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Upon my return to Beersheva this evening, I was unpacking the car and had awkward hands full of empty water bottles and receipts when I heard the incoming rocket siren.  It is really loud and there is no mistaking what it is.  Then I heard what sounded like a higher pitched wail from farther away.  I stood there and thought 'well, what does one do in this situation'?

I looked around frantically and the only other person on the block was an older man.  He started walking relatively fast - but not running - down toward the corner.  He was still playing with his cell phone while walking.  I had no ideas of my own so I followed him.  At the corner he ducked down and sat at the foot of a concrete retaining wall.  I did the same.

I asked him if he spoke English and he said yes.  I asked what should we do.  He said "You wait 40 seconds after the siren, and then you hear the boom.  It is good to be by a wall."

I crouched with my fingers in my ears and my arms over my head like they taught us in tornado drills in school.  The man was just texting away on his phone.  There was also a car with a Haredi family right on the street in front of us, and they pulled over to the side and sat.

After about 60 seconds where we heard nothing, he said "It is ok - it must have exploded far from here."  I thought to myself that maybe the Iron Dome got it.

He then stood up, and taking the cue, I did too.  He asked where I was from and I said the US.  He said something like 'Every country has dangers, hurricanes, tsunamis - Israel is still a great place to live'.  He also mentioned that there may be more tonight and that they may be ramping up because of the Jewish holidays coming. Then he said "I will call my daughter" which finally broke the facade of nonchalance.

And that was pretty much it.  I picked up my stuff and headed for the house.

It seems that it becomes pretty much part of the background, and people don't let it affect them too much.  Rationally I know that my chance of suffering death or injury from any given rocket is miniscule, and I really do try to adjust my fears to statistics.

One thing is for sure though.  If some harm were to come to me, I would most certainly not be seeking to forgive and embrace whatever Hamas yahoo is responsible for this - like a certain pathetic lying wuss I could mention.