Palestinians Ask for Cease-fire As Israel Says No Deal

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh from Hamas, right, examines the damage to a Palestinian house after Israel forces withdrew from the area, in Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, July 8, 2006. The Hamas government on Saturday called for a cease-fire to end its violent two-week standoff with Israel, but Israel rejected it because it stopped short of offering to release an Israeli soldier held by Hamas militants. Officials in the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he would not agree to a truce until Hamas freed Cpl. Gilad Shalit, whose capture provoked Israel to invade the Gaza Strip and bombard it with artillery barrages and airstrikes. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

Israel rejects Palestinian call for truce