This is good news for all sides. Let’s hope it’s the first step to some broader peace.

Israel has agreed to a six-month truce with Palestinian armed groups including Hamas, the government’s chief spokesman has confirmed. Ehud Olmert, Israel’s prime minister, and Ehud Barak, the defence minister, approved the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire on Wednesday, after Egyptian and Palestinian the previous day….

Hamas said it would respect the deal, which materialised after months of mediation by Egypt.

“Hamas will adhere to the timetable which was set by Egypt, but it is our right to respond to any Israeli aggression before its implementation,” Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said.

If the ceasefire deal lasts for three days, Israel will ease its blockade on Gaza, allowing vital supplies into the territory. If the truce holds after that, it will lead to talks on opening the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt. (source)

The most interesting aspect of the deal from my perspective is that it was finalized after months of negotiations moderated by Egypt at the same time the US has pushed hard to cement its place in the Israel-Palestine peace process.

In an apparent attempt to reassert US influence in the region, there was a second announcement today about how our peace talks with Israel and Lebanon have led to some surprising outcomes and a seemingly real openness to negotiation.

At least in this case we’re not competing over who can more effectively blow people up and crush resistence, but who can spark the most substantive peace talks.

This could be the best day in Middle East news since the Iranian women’s soccer team played their first international match!