Israel offers limited cease-fire to Hamas

JERUSALEM, April 14 (UPI) -- Israel, with the help of Egypt, offered a limited cease-fire with Palestinians in Gaza, Palestinian sources said Monday.

The al-Hayat newspaper in London said Israel, acting through Egyptian mediators, extended a cease-fire offer to Palestinian groups, including Islamic Jihad. The offer includes a greater security role for Israelis in exchange for a six-month halt to rocket attacks from Gaza, Haaretz reported Monday.

Islamic Jihad and Fatah, the party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, oppose the deal because it does not consider the West Bank, though al-Hayat said Hamas favors the offer.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert refused Egyptian cease-fire proposals and the Egyptians deny the al-Hayat report altogether.