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Israel urged to accept truce as fighting resumes
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by SOLARLIFE | January 7, 2009 at 02:03 pm
141 views | 6 Recommendations | 15 comments
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United States joined Europe in urging Israel to accept cease-fire
Israeli analysts see a deadline to wrap up its Gaza campaign by the time Obama is sworn in, or risk a possible strain in ties with Washington.
Cease-fire "URGENTLY NEEDED"
Israeli ministers discussed the plan, a day after Israeli shelling killed 42 Palestinians at a U.N.-run Gaza school. Israel sees the talks with Cairo over a wider cease-fire plan promoted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in a positive way..
"We welcome the French-Egyptian initiative. We want to see it succeed," said Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Review: U.N. 'sure' no militants at school hit by Israeli troops
GAZA (Reuters) - Israel's main ally, the United States, joined Europe in urging it on Wednesday to accept an Egyptian-proposed cease-fire and curtail its 12-day-old offensive in Gaza, where fighting resumed after a three-hour truce.
As its assault continued after a three-hour pause to let aid agencies distribute food, Israel's officials said they accepted the "principles" of the proposal, notably denying Hamas the ability to rearm through smuggling tunnels from Egypt. But they said the details needed to be worked out.
Rice pressed Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni by telephone, as the United Nations Security Council weighed action to end Israel's attacks on the Islamist group, in which 653 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pressed Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni by telephone, as the United Nations Security Council weighed action to end Israel's attacks on the Islamist group, in which 653 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed according to medical officials.
"We are trying to move forward," said a senior U.S. official travelling with Rice to New York where she planned to push the staged plan for a truce between Israel and Hamas.
The plan calls for a halt to rocket attacks on Israel that Israel said triggered its offensive on December 27, the opening of border crossings into the coastal territory -- a key demand of Hamas -- and an end to weapons comings into Gaza.
Hamas also confirmed it was discussing the proposals, partly brokered by France, but the violence continued. The latest victims were a Palestinian man and three children killed in an Israeli air strike on a car in the north of the Gaza Strip.
U.S. president-elect Barack Obama also jacked up pressure on Israel to end the campaign by saying after a long silence he was "deeply concerned" and would "engage immediately"
U.S. president-elect Barack Obama also jacked up pressure on Israel to end the campaign by saying after a long silence he was "deeply concerned" and would "engage immediately" on the Middle East situation once he takes office on January 20.
VIDEO Reuters: (Windows IE only) Obama speaks out on Gaza
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama breaks his silence on the Israeli offensive, to say the loss of life among civilians was "a source of deep concern" for him. Coming after Israeli tank shells killed at least 40 Palestinians at a U.N. school where civilians had taken shelter, Obama's statement was his most
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (15)
at 14:21 on January 7th, 2009
The Israelis pay attention to no one, no organization including the UN, and no country but the USA. If there was a threat by the USA to cut of the funding both military and otherwise without an immediate ceasefire the Israeli guns would fall silent before Ohlmert had put the phone down.
Otherwise, the Israelis will stop when they please.
at 14:40 on January 7th, 2009
moonwolf....If there was a threat by the USA to cut of the funding both military and otherwise without an immediate ceasefire the Israeli guns would fall silent before Ohlmert had put the phone down. US Military aid $ 1bn per year, civil sector security biz same amount. Total round $2 bn /year missing would cause a break
at 14:49 on January 7th, 2009
Solar,
Since 1949 almost 85 billion dollars. And for what? To keep the Middle East on BOIL all those years and nothing more to show for it than a region constantly embroiled in conflict.
I bet the US citizens who have lost their homes, their jobs, their schools and their futures could use some of that dough right now!
at 14:49 on January 7th, 2009
Hello Moonwolf, you are right, of course, but I also believe that the question of who listens to who could also be considered in a less partisan light.
After all, one could reproduce your comment, change just a couple of words, and it would then read like this;
"Hamas pays attention to no one, no organization including the UN, and no countries but Iran and Saoudi Arabia. If there was a threat by the those two countries to cut of the funding both military and otherwise without an immediate ceasefire the Hamas rockets would fall silent before whoever is supposed to be in charge had put the phone down".
And therein lies the veritable problem.....
at 14:54 on January 7th, 2009
Fripoulle...you changed the text ok? forgot the money 85 billion dollars. aid against a few plumber rockets, where is the relation. The question to answer the peace economy, no proposals, why ?
at 15:02 on January 7th, 2009
Fripouille,
I agree with you that there is responsibility on both sides. I do not, however, believe that responsibility to be balanced or an equivalency. Israel is a recognized country and signatory to the UN Charter. Hamas was elected but the West decided they didn't like who the Palestinian people chose as their government so they just branded 'em terrorists.
Israel was given its country based partly on sympathy and partly on the promise they would give Palestine their own part of Palestine. They never did, and never planned to.
Hamas gets nowhere near the funding that Israel gets and actually is virtually cut off from a potential supply of money from outside sources, and if they received none they would keep on fighting, unlike the Israelis as it is their very survival they are fighting for.
If Hamas had access to the amount of cash and weapons the Israelis get from the USA then we'd see a real fight and a fair one for the first time, and thus to my final point.
In any situation where military power is as lopsided as this it is, in my opinion, the responsibility of the side that has overwhelming force to create a dialogue and avenue to peace, to act responsibly according to its commitments and promises to the world and the UN. It is not the sole responsibility of the internationally unrecognized and thus non-existent underdog who doesn't even have food to eat or electricity to take all the actions and total responsibility.
at 18:00 on January 7th, 2009
I would agree with every word of your comment, Moonwolf.
I said "would" because, as well as Israeli heavy-handedness, there is also the question of Hamas's continued (this week) advocation of using suicide bombers and its refusal to rescind the clause of its constitution which calls for the elimination of Israel.
Underdog or not, Hamas cannot expect to sit down at a negotiating table with that kind of a loaded gun......
Israel has to give? Sure.
Hamas too.
Takes two to tango.
at 14:54 on January 7th, 2009
Heh..
A half closed door is half open too...
Agent.
at 14:56 on January 7th, 2009
Wow, a real israli.agent.....A half closed door is half open too... Well today was a meeting of old and new presidents, the world has other problems.
at 15:03 on January 7th, 2009
Israeli.agent,
I totally agree.
at 15:08 on January 7th, 2009
Hi Solarlife,
I was answering within the context of your comment, and I just wanted to point out the corollary to it, which I maintain is viable.
You are quite right to mention 85bd and the military imbalance.
But that has nothing to do with Israel's or Hamas's refusal to act according to the organisations you cite.
Neither of them do. Fact.
Now if you want to talk why they don't...
Well that's a whole new ballgame.
at 15:38 on January 7th, 2009
This comes after the US Vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for ceasefire on the weekend.
I want to point out that Hammas might be holding Gaza hostage, but Israel has held the entire region hostage for much much longer.
at 16:44 on January 7th, 2009
AJSmooth.....I want to point out that Hammas might be holding Gaza hostage, but Israel has held the entire region hostage for much much longer. Ceasefire .....
- reply
poor oligarch (not verified)at 22:36 on January 7th, 2009
AJ I think hits the nail on the head here, we'll have to see how honestly Israel responds to the demand that it lift its 18 month blockade (as a minimum)
at 22:42 on January 7th, 2009
poor oligarch...we'll have to see how honestly Israel responds to the demand that it lift its 18 month blockade . ...and starting local farmer economy to create jobs. People with jobs try to keep them, that s how peace is made