JERUSALEM - A truce between Israel and Hamas went into effect Thursday morning, hours after the two sides launched attacks that highlighted the difficulties they face in holding the cease-fire together.
After a year of violence that has killed more than 400 Palestinians and seven Israelis, the leaders of both sides expressed hope the truce which went into effect at 6 a.m. would succeed — but made clear they have little faith in their adversaries’ commitment to the deal.
"I hope it will succeed. I believe there will be quiet in (Israel’s) south," Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in a speech to philanthropists. But he also said he instructed his military "to prepare for any operation, short or long, that might be necessary" if the truce breaks down as several previous ones have.
In another diplomatic initiative, Israel called on neighboring Lebanon to open peace negotiations — an overture that was quickly rejected by Lebanon’s prime minister.
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