Islamic Jihad organization announces ceasefire agreement

Family from Gaza The Islamic Jihad organization announced a new ceasefire agreement in the Gaza strip early Friday, one of the organization''s leaders in the Gaza Strip, Nafaz Azam, said on Friday. According to sources in Gaza the ceasefire was brokered by Egypt and the UN. The ceasefire has already began, according to Israel Radio. This announcement came hours after Palestinian sources reported that the Israeli occupation forces killed two Islamic Jihad operatives in the Gaza Strip. 
In other developments, El Salvador Thursday recognized Palestine as an independent and sovereign state, according to Palestinian officials. President Mahmoud Abbas thanked the president of El Salvador for the recognition, expressing hope that it will bolster bilateral relations. Foreign Minister Riyad Malki had visited El Salvador on August 20, where he met high level official urging them to recognize the Palestinian state. Israel, on the other hand, had also sent a delegation to El Salvador to persuade it against recognizing Palestine. It is expected that at least 19 Central American and Caribbean countries will follow suit, which will give the Palestinians the two-thirds number of votes needed at the United Nations General Assembly once the recognition of Palestine resolution come up for a vote.
Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna, in a meeting with Fatah’s committee member Nabil Shaath in New Delhi Thursday, confirmed India’s full support for the Palestinian bid to the United Nations and its acceptance of Palestine as a full member of the international organization.
During the meeting, Shaath gave Krishna a letter written by President Mahmoud Abbas to the president of India regarding Palestine’s full membership in the UN. It should be noted that India, which is currently chair of the UN Security Council, has recognized the Palestinian state in 1988 and has full diplomatic relations and strong historical ties with the Palestinian people since the time of the late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat.
While Romania is currently looking into Palestine's demarche with the UN for the international recognition of its statehood, weighing the forms the process may take and the implications of such a move; the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) is also holding consultations with European partners to reach a common stance on this issue, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Doris Mircea on Thursday told a press conference.       'Romania considers that the quick resumption of direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations is the best line of action. Only a solution negotiated between the parties can be implemented on site and can provide a solid basis for sustainable and comprehensive peace, based on the principle of two viable states coexisting in peace and security. Romania will further support the efforts of the International Community to push for the resumption of peace negotiations and overcoming this prolonged stalemate,' the MAE official reiterated the position of the Bucharest government on this subject. According to the same source, the Romanian Foreign Ministry strongly condemns the attacks committed on August 18, 2011 in southern Israel, which killed eight and wounded over 40, as well as the missile barrage launched subsequently on Israel. MAE expresses solidarity with the affected families and is confident that those responsible for organizing the attacks will be identified and brought to justice as soon as possible.'At the same time, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs pleads for restraint and avoiding the escalation of violence, the more so as the efforts of the entire International Community focus on maintaining peace in the region,' the spokesperson underscored.
In other news, Isreail airstrike on Thursday killed two Palestinians in al-Sudania area, northwest of Gaza city, according to medical sources. Witnesses told WAFA that the Israeli airstrike targeted a motorcycle killing Palestinian resident Salim al-Arabeed, 25, who was transferred torn apart to Kamal Odwan hospital in Beit Lahiya, north of the Gaza Strip. Ala'a Abu el Kheir, 24, was transferred to Al-Shifa'a hospital in Gaza city in a state of clinical death and later his death was announced by medical sources.