The end of 2005 also spells the end for any ceasefire agreement with Israel, at least in the eyes of Palestinian terrorist group Islamic Jihad. From the Associated Press:
The Islamic Jihad and several armed groups with ties to the ruling Fatah movement said Saturday they won’t necessarily observe a truce with Israel in 2006.
The limited cease-fire, negotiated in March, expires Saturday, and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian mediators are trying to win an extension. Hamas has largely stuck to the agreement, as part of what has been portrayed as Hamas’ gradual transformation into a political party.
The smaller Islamic Jihad never laid down its arms and carried out a series of suicide bombings and other attacks against Israel in recent months. Islamic Jihad claimed it was committed to the truce in 2005, and that the attacks were retaliation for perceived Israeli truce violations.
In a statement Saturday, Islamic Jihad said: “We reaffirm that the official end of the truce agreed to in Cairo last March comes at midnight on Saturday.” It was not clear whether the group would participate in talks on extending the cease-fire.
Interesting to note that Islamic Jihad — an organization which is substantially supported by Iran — rather than Hamas is leading the effort to sabotage any sort of ceasefire negotiations with Israel.