Posted on 01/03/2009 9:03:35 PM PST by SmithL
The U.S. has been engaged in intensive efforts with Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to formulate a framework for an agreement to end the fighting in the Gaza Strip and to reach a stable and long-term ceasefire.
However, according to senior diplomats, the American initiative has not yet reached a formula that addresses Israel's terms, and which Hamas is also ready to accept.
Diplomats in Jerusalem did say the existing draft includes components that would probably also feature in a future agreement if such an agreement is reached. On Monday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to visit Israel. Paris is seeking to persuade Israel to agree to a 48-hour cease-fire, although Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni rejected such an initiative.
The first element of the U.S. draft proposes a cease-fire that could end the firing of rockets and mortar rounds on Israel. In turn, the Israel Defense Forces would refrain from any activity in the Gaza Strip.
Smuggling is an additional issue mentioned in the existing U.S. draft for an agreement, which also affords for the possible stationing of an international military presence on the Egyptian side of the border with Gaza to monitor the frontier zone. In addition, the draft calls for international observers to oversee the implementation of an agreement.
As for the crossings, the rudimentary document stipulates that they would be permanently open to humanitarian aid, with a special emphasis on the Rafah crossing, in line with an agreement reached in 2005.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
Why are we interfering in this? Let this sweep hamas into the sea trhen worry about a cease fire.. sheesh
The catch is that Hamas fires missiles during cease-fires.
So its a mystery to me what the advantage of a cease-fire is to Israel.
Cease-fire means only Hamas shoots. Breaking the cease-fire is when Israel shoots back. I can see why the arabs and the arabists would think that was a dandy idea. I'm not sure why any Israelis would want to go along with it.
And in fact they shouldn't. The only real cease-fire with Hamas comes when there are no Hamas killers left on the loose. Israel should hunt them down to the last man. In the United States we don't negotiate with serial killers, we hunt them down and jail them and execute them. Israel should do no less.
The only solution is this, Israel wins, Hamas loses.
Stable long term solution??? Kill everyone connected to Hamas.
“Conflict in The Middle East: Progressive Solutions”
1) Establish Scientific Socialism.
The tranquility of the late Soviet Union can be easily moved to the Middle East — with the assistance of a violent revolution to terminally smash the ruling class and establish a workers’ paradise where everyone will be the equal of everyone else, and everything we need will be free. Why can’t the entire Middle East be like a People-of-Color version of The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea? There are no wars among the Korean people!
2) Establish an Islamic Caliphate.
Is there anything more peaceful than the sight of devout Muslims kneeling on their prayer mats, praying for World Peace? Imagine a world where the entirety of Palestine is legitimately occupied by millions of people who spend all of their time praying for World Peace. The force would be deliciously irresistible, and would spread throughout the world. Eventually, the entire planet will be occupied (in the best sense of the word!) by people who do nothing other than pray for World Peace.
3) Human Extinction.
The true war is between Earth and its rapists; i.e., the human species.
Extinction will save us all.
4) Zionist Surrender.
It takes two to fight, and I therefore declare the Zionists “guilty as charged” for not surrendering. Total surrender and an iron-clad promise to never attack again (accompanied by a UN-enforced demilitarization of the Zionist state) would end this conflict forever.
5) Sue the Zionists in International Court.
I have already lodged several lawsuits against the Zionists for their disregard of international law. In particular, I have demanded that all Zionist generals (and Arial Sharon - no, I did not forget you) be airlifted to The Hague, where they can be tried under U.N. auspices, and hanged, for mass murder. Think: If everyone in the World Community sued a Zionist, we could have years of delightful litigation imposed on this illegitimate state. And come to think of it, wouldn’t it be even more effective to simply file lawsuits against every Jew in the world? That would put a quick stop to their crooked lobbying efforts!
6) Defeat Amerikkka.
Amerikkka is Israel’s puppet. Or do I have that backwards? I mean to say, Israel is America’s puppet. (See how crafty they are? Even I, with my legendary cognitive powers, cannot escape from the slimy ooze of the deceptive Zionist snake!) But one is always behind the other — plotting and conspiring to unleash their blood-drenched war-mongering upon the most vulnerable amongst us. Amerikkka needs to be defanged, and fast. Wake up, peeps, and crash the gate!
More at: http://thepeoplescube.com/red/viewtopic.php?t=786
Out policy with the Palestinians will soon change. “One President at a time”.
GO Israel, you MUST continue the offensive, you have very little time left as after the 20th you will not have any support from USA, even now it is waining.
Our people have lost their will for the moment and there are no righteous leaders rising. We have to regain our courage and throw this dragon off our backs but it will take several years. Give time, you will see a “remnant” and only a remnant push back but it may not be enough.
Hmmmm...wasn’t it Hamas who ripped up the original “truce” last week and demanded war? And now, DOS is trying to negotiate a new one? Why bother?
"...to reach a stable and long-term ceasefire."
The HAMAS Charter calls for the destruction of Israel and its replacement by an Islamist State. So, only the destruction of HAMAS can lead to a stable and long-term ceasefire. Anything less, just puts off the next war.
There are 2 very simple solutions to this mess...
One is on Israel’s terms: The palis stop trying to kill Jews and Israelis, the Israelis stop having to defend themselves, and the palis build a society for themselves, and everyone lives happily ever after.
The other is on the pali’s terms: Kill the Jews. Kill the Israelis. Then see who else they can make miserable.
Mark
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