'If the fighting indeed ceases Thursday as planned, Israel will ease its blockade of Gaza next week,' government spokesman Mark Regev said. At the same time, talks to release abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit will intensify, Regev said.
'Thursday will be the beginning we hope of a new reality where Israeli citizens in the south will no longer be on the receiving end of continuous rocket attacks,' Regev said. 'Israel is giving a serious chance to this Egyptian initiative and we want it to succeed.'
