EU to propose lifting Israeli blockade of Gaza, Spanish FM says

[sabrina 1]

EU to propose lifting Israeli blockade of Gaza, Spanish FM says

Saturday, June 5, 2010
MADRID — Agence France-Presse

The European Union will present in the coming days a proposal to lift the Israeli blockade of Gaza, following a deadly raid this week on aid ships bound for the Palestinian territory, Spain's foreign minister said Saturday.

Miguel Angel Moratinos said he had spoken with the office of the bloc's foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton. Spain currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

Moratinos says that the EU can play a 'leading role in this situation'.

He indicated that the talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will continue:

As for the U.S.-initiated talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on the West Bank, Moratinos said that "the indirect negotiations are going to proceed. We have spoken with the parties, and it appears they are going to proceed."

World opinion seems to be on the side of lifting the blockade now. This is an opportunity to bring about changes and the U.S. needs to get on board with the rest of the world or risk losing its leadership role in bringing about peace in that region of the world. One thing is certain, nothing has worked so far, so maybe it is time for someone else to take over.

[aquart]

1. Palestinian WIN!

I wonder if this will make Hamas happy?

[sabrina 1]

2. It's up to you if you want to look at it that way. But most people

are not concerned about which government is happy or not happy. What is important is that all this violence comes to an end and Israel and Palestine learn to live in peace.

Not sure why we should worry about either Hamas or the Israeli government. It is the people who are important. They have a right to live their lives in peace, on both sides. And the current policies of the Israeli government with the backing of the U.S. have failed.

[Zix]

6. It doesn't really matter very much whether Hamas is happy or not.

The ordinary Palestinians are actually more important than Hamas.

[Chulanowa]

7. Aquart can't tell the difference

He thinks all Arabs are Hamas.

[Chulanowa]

3. Well, it's evident that the US is 100% useless in the situation

Our time as any sort of leader in the Middle East passed away this week, with Obama's statement regarding the situation.

Was bound to happen sometime. I would have preferred that we at least give a shot at reforming our place, rahter than just putting four bullets in its head and one in its chest, but...

[TheMadMonk]

5. Au contraire, The US has been 100% successful in its endeavours...

...to keep the war spigots open.

The main role of the US as the primary negotiator is keeping anyone else from taking on the role and actually negotiating a workable settlement.

[sabrina 1]

9. It looks like their job is getting harder, holding on to that role!

I think the world was waiting for Bush to leave, hoping for a change in policy from the U.S. I think they were willing to give it a little more time considering the mess that needed to be cleaned up.

But this incident has pushed the U.S. into a position they probably would have preferred not to be in. Their response to this incident stood out from that of almost every other nation around the globe.

Now with this proposal from Spain, and with Turkey threatening to break even military ties with Israel, these are signs that the world may no longer be looking to the U.S. for leadership, especially since none appears to be forthcoming.

Sometimes a single incident can change the course of history. I don't know if this one is it, but there is definitely a shift in world opinion since this tragedy. Israel is not helping, putting the U.S. in a position of appearing to condone what the rest of the world has condemned.

[New Dawn]

4. K&R

[JDPriestly]

8. The real problem here is that Abdullah Gul who is now in charge in Turkey

is a Muslim extremist who is trying to fool the international community into abandoning Israel.

For shame on all those who fall for this. Hamas and Gul are extremists.

[Fumesucker]

11. And Likud and Netanyahu are not extremists?

Likud is to the right of our Republican party, and Netanyahu is to the right of most of Likud.

[sabrina 1]

12. I doubt the international community will abandon Israel.

But the current Israeli government, the extreme rightwing elements that are in charge of the country, that have seen war as the only way to resolve problems, have lost Israel support around the world. Just as the Bush policies here of brutality and war lost the world's respect for this country.

Israel's best friends right now are not those who would encourage them to continue down the path they have been on.

It is NOT the actions of anyone else that has caused the world to condemn what happened last week. Israel alone is responsible for that. No matter how much someone may support Israel, even if it is to the point of condoning the horrendous loss of life, they would have to admit that what happened last weekend was a political mistake of mammoth proportions.

What the world wants is to see real efforts towards peace from Israel and an end to the humiliation of the people of Palestine. Even if governments ignore Israel's actions, they have to respond to their people. And killing people on a humanitarian mission was bound to cause outrage around the world.

Do you think the reaction would be any different if it was any other country who was responsible for what happened?

[JDPriestly]

18. Israel has not refused to negotiate. So let the negotiations between

Hamas and Israel begin. The reason they don't is that Hamas would have to recognize Israel's existence in order to negotiate with it. Thus, we reach the core problem: Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel.

Until Hamas recognizes Israel or agrees to negotiate for that recognition, the battle will continue.

Iran seems to forget that we are in Iraq.

[sabrina 1]

19. Well, Israel's right to exist is not negotiable so if Hamas

agrees to peace negotiations it would be with that understanding. With that out of the way, and it should not even be allowed, then we will see what both sides are willing to give up. Because to make peace there will have to be compromises. Both sides have to understand that.

[JDPriestly]

20. I suspect that Israel's negotiations with the West Bank are going very well.

Hamas is desperate. Hamas is losing.

As I suggested in another post, before Abdullah Gul of Turkey criticizes Israel, he should apologize to the Armenian people and reinstate them in the homes and on the land that the Armenians lost during the Armenian Holocaust.

Once Abdullah Gul has set that example, then he has the right to criticize Israel.

[TexasObserver]

10. There is no country which supports Israel's conduct in this.

Unless you count the USA.

Here's hoping the EU has some influence on the situation. Nice to see someone step up.

[Kringle]

13. the EU is chicken .nt

[sabrina 1]

14. Maybe, but even chicken organizations have a breaking point, and this

appears to be it.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. Be interesting to see if this is anything more than the cookie pushers talking to the press

First of all, Hamas is in total control of Gaza and is refusing participation in the next round of Palestinian elections.

[sabrina 1]

16. It would be foolish of Hamas not to cooperate in

freeing the people of Gaza from the blockade. Or to turn down any offers of negotiations for peace. Just as they are probably thrilled at Israeli's stupidity, Israel would love to see them block efforts for peace or democratic elections.

But there is no accounting for the stupidity of people sometimes. However it isn't about them or the Israeli government now.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

17. Tryants love power, we shall have to see.

This could be a game changer but precedent says otherwise. Being a skeptic does not mean I don't want change, just that I am not optimistic that its coming any time soon.