World

Ban Ki Moon : End Gaza Blockade - Release Gilad Schalit

by Paul Conneally | March 21, 2010 at 02:07 am

244 views | 8 Recommendations | 3 comments

Sunday: This morning has seen UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon vist Gaza and give residents a message from the UN of "We stand with you".

1.5 million people of the Gaza Strip have lived inside the Israeli / Egyption blockade for nearly three years. Ban Ki Moon has called many times for an end to the blockade and will later today speak with President Shimon Perez when he will convey the Quartet in Moscow meeting message calling for a stop to all Israeli sttlement activity and the removal of illegal outposts.

Ban Ki Moon has also called for the cessation of Hamas missile attacks on Israel and the release of IDF soldier St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit who is currently held by Hamas. Gilad Schalit's parents have appealed for UN support in securing the release of their son.

Mr Ban urged all Gazans to "choose the path of non-violence, Palestinian unity and international legitimacy".

Ban Ki Moon's visit is seen as the UN's way to smooth the path to the restarting of peace talks ahead of US special representative George Mitchell's visit to Israel later Sunday to kick start indirect peace talks between Israel and Palestine.

Speaking in Gaza, Mr Ban said families were living under "unacceptable, unsustainable conditions".

Mr Ban said it was "distressing" for him to see damage to housing remaining, with no reconstruction possible under the blockade.

In a visit to a Gaza City neighborhood badly damaged during IDF Operation Cast Lead, Ban promised residents appealing for an end to the blockade that "we stand with you."

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t k kidwai

at 05:53 on March 21st, 2010

Israel/Palestine issue needs urgent resolution and if third parties like US imperialists and brutal,unrealistic Arab monarchs,dictators are kept from any negotiated settlement,chances of peace prospects are bright.Each one of them has vested interests,if peace is established between Israel and Palestine the seething anger and ire against their own governments would be directed against whom?That is their worry.US imperialists and European thugs have their own interests,which peace could jeopardise thus an internecine conflit is in their interests.Let us hope wisdom prevails on Israel/Palestene leadership.

Barbara McPherson

at 09:33 on March 21st, 2010

Today's announcement that the building of 1 600 more housing units in the disputed area leads me to think that Israel doesn't want a peaceful settlement. Perhaps it is time that the U.S. stops propping up that country with so much aid. A few well placed sanctions against Israel would bring them to seriously negotiate a peace.

t k kidwai

at 16:47 on March 21st, 2010

A good many commentators too subscribe to the same idea.But US imperialists do not want peace in that region,a lucrative market for arms'sale.Israel would continue to receive massive aid and that idiot Arab monarchs,Shekhs and dictators would continue to buy arms from US.