http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israelgaza-conflict-what-now-for-gaza-israel-nears-moment-of-truth-in-war-with-hamas-9631788.html
President Obama presses Netanyahu to call ‘immediate and unconditional’ Gaza ceasefire
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| Netanyahu and Obama |
The United Nations Security Council
unanimously passes a statement calling for an immediate and
unconditional ceasefire on humanitarian grounds, in Gaza. In the
meantime President Obama has a long telephone conversation with
Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel, pressing Netanyahu to
call an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
With this flurry of diplomatic activity
at the United Nations, the two sides in Gaza, observe a fragile
ceasefire. Paradoxically even during the supposed truce, Israel
continues with its programme of destruction of Palestinian tunnels
and other infrastructure. It is indeed a strange phenomenon that's
the invading forces, the aggressor in fact, continues with his
programme of destruction while at the same time the Palestinians are
expected to show maximum restraint in defence of their territory. I
cannot recall any other instance where a truce or ceasefire has been
in place and one side is allowed to continue its activities whilst
the other side is expected to remain passive. However in the strange
world of the Middle East, particularly where Israel is concerned, the
normal rules seem not to apply.
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| Israeli Ambassador to the UN |
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| Ron Prosor |
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| Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour |
It is now reported that within the last
hour 11 AM 28 July 2014, Israeli planes have attacked targets in Gaza
and tanks are shelling residential districts. The Eid Festival,
marking the end of Ramadan has started with a continuation of
hostilities which have been going on since early July. Neither the
Israelis nor the Palestinians, are prepared to accept the statement
from the United Nations Security Council, calling for an immediate
ceasefire. The Israelis consider that the statement goes too far and
would prevent them from completing the objectives in Gaza was on the
other hand the Palestinians consider that statement does not go far
enough. It fails to address the fundamental problems of listing the
blockade and ending the occupation together with the release of
Palestinian prisoners. In the light of this is difficult to see a
solution certainly in the short term, where both sides, remain fixed
in their respective positions. The intervention from President Obama
has not been well received in Tel Aviv, with the Israeli press from
all sides of the political spectrum critical of both the Obama and
Secretary Kerry, who it is felt have gone too far towards the
Palestinian position seeking to bring about a commitment from Israel
to address Palestinian aspirations in respect of lifting the
blockade. There is a growing lobby in Tel Aviv intent on expanding
the current military operation to completely destroy Palestinian
infrastructure and demilitarise Gaza by disarming Hamas.
This seems to be little prospect of any
reconciliation of these opposing views in the foreseeable future and
until such times as Israel recognises that the illegal blockade of
Gaza must be lifted and the land borders between Gaza and Egypt must
be opened it is inevitable that the current round of hostilities will
continue.
Moreover, Israel must be made to
realise that their continued imposition of the blockade and
occupation of Gaza is rapidly losing support in many countries around
the world. In this respect Israel is becoming more and more isolated
on a daily basis. The hysterical outbursts from both Netanyahu and
from the usual Israeli spokespersons on television and in the press
are indicative of a government turning in on itself and becoming more
and more isolationist in his attitudes. This is both unhelpful in
solving the underlying problems and can be dangerous in respect of
relationships within the area.
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