Israel faces growing international pressure to change Gaza Strip policy

[bemildred]

Ran Koriel, Israel's European Union ambassador, recently warned the Foreign Ministry of a change in EU policy on Hamas, amid mounting international pressure on Israel over its handling of the situation in the Gaza Strip.

The government has recently been getting strong signals that both the U.S. and Europe are deeply frustrated by lack of progress in negotiations with the Palestinians. Envoys of the Quartet on the Middle East convened in Berlin on February 11 to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip and the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). David Welch, top Middle East aide to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Mark Otte, the European Union peace envoy; UN Middle East envoy Robery Serry; and Russian envoy to the Middle East Sergei Yakovlev took part in the meeting.

In the last week, a number of Israeli ambassadors in European capitals sent classified telegrams about the meeting's contents, some of which reached Haaretz.

Serry criticized Israel at the outset of the meeting. "We are deeply concerned over the situation in Gaza, especially from the humanitarian perspective," he said. "We must find a fast solution to this situation."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/956434.html

[bemildred]

1. European Parliament says Israels policy to isolate Gaza failed

European Parliament (EP) said Thursday that the policy of isolation of the Gaza Strip has failed at both political and humanitarian level.

According to a resolution adopted by its full session in Strasbourg today, the EP reiterates "its deep concern at the humanitarian and political crisis in the Gaza Strip" and reiterates its call for an end to the blockade and for a controlled re-opening of the crossings in and out of Gaza.

The European lawmakers call on Israel to cease military actions, killing and endangering civilians, and extrajudicial targeted killings. They also call on Hamas, to prevent the firing of rockets by Palestinian militias from the Gaza Strip into.

The resolution calls on the EU Council and the European Commission to continue to guarantee, together with the international community, essential humanitarian aid for the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1886062&Language=en

[subsuelo]

3. wow, someone calling on both sides to stop killing?

what a concept

[breakaleg]

2. This sounds promising. But I hesitate to get too excited until I see if anything will come of it.

[azurnoir]

4. Talk is cheap

Until not only the EU but especially the US is willing to DO something constructive, other than "for show" peace talks, nothing will change.As for the the US I am not holding my breath, it is an election year.

[MaryCeleste]

5. If you read from broader sources the change is clear...they are going to invade again

The rocket attacks have stepped up and the Israeli's are tired of it.

I can see all merit on all sides of this one and expect a *hot* summer in the Middle East. The recent nonsense out of Iran on Israel disappearing is not going to help things.

[bemildred]

6. I think opinions are still divided on that.

With good reason too. But I do think it's getting more likely that we will have another war this year.

[MaryCeleste]

7. Not in Israel, at least not substantively

MKs have been briefed and the war drums are getting louder. Of course Hamas is pouring gasoline on the fire with stepped up rocket attacks. Something very serious, such as Hamas stepping down in favor of Fatah would have to happen for Gaza not to get invaded (again!)

[bemildred]

8. Well, we will see if you are right or not.

I see varied opinions in the press. Certainly the political pressure from the rocket attacks has to be driving the government nuts. In my experience beating the war drums is a more or less continuous activity, and I don't pay a lot of attention until they start getting the troops and equipment together.

[pelsar]

9. thats a good description....

Certainly the political pressure from the rocket attacks has to be driving the government nuts.

and the people of israel as well.......

[Vegasaurus]

10. Hamas seems to enjoy throwing gasoline on the fire

It has done nothing since its coup except make the lives of its citizens more miserable.

The Hamas government could prevent an invasion. They just have to control the rocket fire, which they refuse to do. So their people suffer. Blame Hamas for their lack of care for their own people.

[subsuelo]

11. you know, Vegasaurus

It occurs to me that you could go through your entire post, and replace the word 'Hamas' with 'Israeli government' or 'Israeli officials' and you would have a statement that fits just as well for them. Let's try it:

"The Israeli government seems to enjoy throwing gasoline on the fire.

It has done nothing since <insert some event here> except make the lives of its citizens more miserable.

The Israeli government could prevent <insert some act of violence, such as rocket attacks>. They just have to control <insert some act of aggression>, which they refuse to do. So their people suffer. Blame Israeli officials for their lack of care for their own people."

Do you think these would be a fair statements?

[pelsar]

12. except....that....

israelis lives arent miserable.....

[Vegasaurus]

13. Touche nt

[subsuelo]

15. Then you agree that everything else fits?

And your only argument is that the lives of Israelis are better than Gazans.

?

[pelsar]

18. well nothing fits...

israeli lives arent miserable....they're govt does care....the people do protest and get things changed......its citizens arent tortured (hebrew paper maariv Feb 22 has an article about living under hamas). etc

[Vegasaurus]

20. Not so

But Hamas is in control of whether or not there will be continuing misery for the people. That was my point. Not that the lives of the Gazans are unimportant, or not as good as Israelis. In fact, if you would READ my posts, you would see my deep compassion for people under a horrible, cruel military dictatorship, who put political gain above the citizens.

If Hamas would stop the rockets, the siege would end. If suicide bombers would stop blowing up crossings, or if militants would stop rocketing their own electricity (this is the dumbest of all), if they would stop hiding terrorists/weapons/bombs in ambulances, in humanitarian supplies, on the bodies of sick women, the lives of the citizens would improve.

Blame Hamas for putting their citizens lives so in danger.

[subsuelo]

21. I put the blame on both Hamas and the Israeli regime

That's my only point. Both share the blame, for the suffering of Gazans and Israelis.

[pelsar]

23. of course...

israel deserves those kassams since they left gaza......how dare they uproot settlements and just 'leave" like that....and the very night they left, the kassams kept on coming and havent let up since (no matter what israel did or didnt do....that must be why they are to blame......

[subsuelo]

25. are you saying Israeli government has no share of the blame?

[pelsar]

26. for the kassams coming out of gaza....

no israel is not to blame......go back to the day israel left......what exactly did israel do to deserve those 30 kassams?.....and days and months after that?

[subsuelo]

14. Didn't you post this:

i spent saturday in Sederot....

for 3 years now people walk around, sleep and work waiting for the siren to go off giving them 15 seconds to stop what they are doing and find a shelter. A complete disruption of anything they're doing. If they're home they go to what they believe is their most sheltered room.

kids dont play outside, no parent wants to take that risk. No parties...no parent wants the responsibility of having 20-30 kids under their roof or in their backyard. bus stops are now all "kassam proof"....parks have concrete walls in areas to protect from the kassams for people who are walking by (or for when the kids do venture outside with their parents.) Bathing your kids takes on a new meaning as does shopping...life revolves around the next kassam that will be sent...

Most of the kassams are aimed at when people are outside:... morning hours when people are going to work and school (the school area is a favorite target area) or in the afternoon when school is out and the parents go to pick them up...parents dont want their kids walking home.

[breakaleg]

16. When it suits them, ALL Israelis are suffering. Other times, not so much. It depends on what

they are pushing on a given day.

[oberliner]

17. Who is "they" ?

No one is pushing anything. We are all here because we support an end to the conflict and a peaceful solution.

[Violet_Crumble]

27. It's pretty obvious 'they' are some posters in this forum...

We are all here because we support an end to the conflict and a peaceful solution.

Who's 'we'? And if everyone here supports a peaceful solution to the conflict, then the word *peace* is pretty meaningless based on some of the nasty crap I've read from one or two posters in this fourm...

[pelsar]

19. which means....

that many of the residents of sederot are very pissed....they're lives arent "miserable"....they're govt has done some (but not enough) to protect them as is evident of the various shelters around.

bottom liine is that the israeli govt isnt perfect, but there is no doubt that the israelis prefer their government and its style of govt than what the gazans have.

[Crunchy Frog]

22. So we won't be hearing anymore complaints

about the suffering in Sderot?

[pelsar]

24. I guess you miss the difference

Israeli complaints for making a change are addressed to their own govt.....Palestenian complaints and their "enablers" address israel for change as opposed to their own govt......in case you might have noticed, that doesnt work to well.