"This barbarous action was preceded by an agreement on a temporary cease-fire and the beginning of talks," he said.

A temporary cease-fire was broken by the latest unrest.

Several rounds of negotiations, accompanied by temporary cease-fires, were held between the insurgents and the government.

Both proposals call for a temporary cease-fire during which negotiations would be held.

This holds true even if a temporary cease-fire might be wrested from both sides.

"You may see peace talks and some sort of temporary cease-fire, but it won't last," a senior United Nations official said.

But a temporary cease-fire in the current military situation is a highly sensitive issue.

Would a temporary cease-fire create more lost lives in the future?

Hamas leaders said they would consider a refusal by Israel to release all its prisoners to be a violation of the temporary cease-fire.

Those talks in Panmunjom are just a truce, a temporary cease-fire, not peace, so don't let anybody kid you.