Middle East News
Palestinians seek ceasefire to prevent Israeli ground assault (Roundup)
Dec 29, 2008, 18:19 GMT
New York - The Palestinian envoy to the United Nations called on the Security Council on Monday to take 'practical steps' to stop the fighting in the Gaza Strip to avert a potential Israeli invasion.
Riyad Mansour and Egypt's UN Ambassadpr Maged Abdelaziz met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the UN Security Council president, Neven Jurica, the envoy from Croatia, urging them to proceed with demanding an immediate ceasefire from Israel.
Mansour said the three-days-old Israeli airstrikes aimed at Hamas-held facilities in Gaza have killed and injured 'more than 1,700 people.'
'There is a consensus (for a ceasefire) here and what we want from the UN Security Council and the secretary general is to bring Israel into compliance with the demand for a ceasefire before we face a new situation in the next 24 hours,' Mansour told reporters.
'We do not want to face a situation in which thousands more people will be killed or injured,' Mansour said.
Abdelaziz, presenting the Arab League, said his group is actively involved in the region to work out the ceasefire, rejecting Ban's criticism that governments in the region have not done enough to end the violence.
The 15-nation council and Ban have called for the immediate ceasefire, opening of crossings into Gaza so humanitarian goods can reach Gazans and the start of a dialogue to end the conflict.
Israel, which launched the airstrikes against Hamas on Saturday as a self-defense measure, said it was prepared for a ground assault against Hamas after calling back some 6,000 Jewish reservists.
Israel said Hamas militants had fired more than 400 rockets and 200 mortars into southern Israel in the past four months.
Israel's UN Ambassador Gabriela Shalev said in a letter to the Security Council on Saturday that the airstrikes were aimed at 'the terrorists and their infrastructure' in Gaza and were not intended against the civilian population.
The UN said Monday that more than 50 of the more than 340 people killed by Israeli airstrikes were civilians.
Ban issued the call for an immediate ceasefire on Monday after spending the weekend telephoning leaders, urging them to work for a ceasefire and improve the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, which has 1.5 million Palestinians, more than half of whom are children.
He called for the observance of humanitarian law in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
'Israel and Hamas must halt their acts of violence and take all necessary measures to avoid civilian casualties,' Ban told a news conference. 'A ceasefire must be declared immediately. They must also curb their inflammatory rhetorics.'
He said dialogue can begin only following a ceasefire.
'The regional and international partners have not done enough,' he said. 'They should do more and use all possible means to end the violence and encourage a political dialogue and emphasize peaceful ways to resolve the differences.'
Ban said he had been in touch with government leaders around the world this past weekend and continued to hold discussions to resolve the conflict, which has killed more than 340 people and injured hundreds.
He said the Israeli government has given him guarantees to reopen crossings into Gaza so that humanitarian and medical supplies can reach the 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza. Ban said he was still in discussions with the Israeli government to carry out those guarantees.
UN humanitarian coordinator chief in New York, John Holmes, said the UN Palestinian refugee office in the Middle East would need 100 trucks of relief supplies a day, but apparently only about 60 trucks reached their destinations.
The UN said Monday that the Israeli airstrikes heavily damaged the UN headquarters for refugee relief and the special envoy for the Middle East in Gaza.
'UN premises must be protected and inviolate,' the UN said in a statement.
It said Israel has all the coordinates and locations of UN premises in Gaza and the strikes occurred without any warnings and have recklessly endangered UN staff and property.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Glad to have any Croatian participation in a 'peace process'.
Is this a direct Ustashe helping hand? Do the worst, most sadistic
distic, most craven errand boys for the Nazis really think the
world has forgotten them? Croatian pigs and Hamas pigs: what a
team!
Israel pulled out 3-4 years ago and still hamas fires rockets. Do they think it is a game?
Unless UN is willing to send peace keepers to halt rocket attacks, they should keep quiet.
Why doesn't gaza turn itself into singapore/monaco style city state and make themselves rich?
The whole 'terrorism' thing hasn't been successful.
I'm betting the Israelites win this one (in number of kills).
''We do not want to face a situation in which thousands more people will be killed or injured,' Mansour said'
What he means, of course, is that he doesn't want to see people killed, unless those people are Jews. Hamas tries over and over to kill Israelis, specifically civilians, by shooting rockets or sending suicide bombers in to deliberately chosen civilian areas.
Mansour and his Hamas buddies would ululate with joy if one of those rockets or bombs happend to kill large numbers of Israeli civilians (in fact they do celebrate whenever a particularly large number of infidel women and children are slaughtered).
But as soon as Israel gets fed up and begins targeting Hamas members themselves, Hamas begins crying out about 'war crimes', 'a humanitarian crisis', and 'Israeli violence'.
Give us a break! I would ask if Hamas thinks that the rest of the world is so stupid as to fall for their nonsense, but clearly they do, and clearly many people in this world *do* fall for such nonsense. Oh brother!
I think people should look at who started this whole mess 60 years ago. Read up on your history people. What would YOU do if someone came into YOUR country and suddenly made you a 2nd class citizen. Everything fed to you via the TV, radio, and newspapers with regard to Judaism and Israel is a big fat lie. Don't take it from me folks...just do your own research about these people. You all need to see the light.
Can I move in with you? Thanks, Ismail Haniyeh
'What would YOU do if someone came into YOUR country and suddenly made you a 2nd class citizen.'
I think you need to read some history yourself.
This whole notion of a 'palestinian nation' is a myth created by pan arab nationalists in the 1960's as an ideological counter to the very existence of Israel.
The 'palestinians' are arabs - most of whom immigrated to the palestine mandate along with zionists. The last time there was a sovereign country on that territory it was called judea. Arab palestine is JORDAN. The arabs got about 80% of the palestine mandate and that does not even include west bank/gaza.
Al, you are the victim of propaganda and a glaring lack of curiosity.
lol...If I weren't curious I would not be making the statements I am making. Furthermore, I think it is you(along with 95% of the world's population) who is a victim of propaganda by the Jewish cabalists who own all your media. Don't take it from me...just look it up..seriously..do yourself a favour. And then do some research on Judaism and it's core beliefs and you will find everything you need. Start with the Babylonian Talmud and then maybe the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion.
Calling me names or attempting to discredit me will accomplish nothing as I can back everything I say with hard empirical evidence all of which is commonly available it you CHOOSE to look for it.
Have a nice day Charles and be glad you don't live in Gaza. Those people will surely all be annihilated before long.
The Jews are out numbered 100 to 1. With only 400 dead in Gaza it looks like Israel is losing the battle. With years of Israeli deaths from Rocket and mortar attacks, Israel would have to kill -- Israeli deaths X 100 = A lot more bombing by the Israelis to even the score. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, 100 Arabs for an Israeli. DO THE MATH stupid.
For months and now years, terrorist Hamas has launched rockets against Israel on an almost daily basis. The worldwide leftist and Islamic media barely notice or actively ignore these attacks. As has become the usual world leftist expectation — if not demand — Israel is simply expected to 'take it' and not fight back. In fact, each and every time Israel attempts to defend itself, Islamic countries and the media blame Israel for fighting back against the terrorists. They claim that Israel's defense of itself amounts to Israel causing the problem in the first place! This is of course an insane position. But, insanity is the preferred position of both Islam and its willing companion The Left.
I don't remember when the Leftist-created concept of 'Israel is only allowed a limited response to attacks against it' began. This is sheer idiocy, as presented and demanded by lunatics. Unless you are suicidal, when someone is trying to kill you, you fight back with everything at your disposal. However, as it has already been established that insanity is the favored stance of the Left and Islam, it should come as no surprise that both of these groups seem — indeed — to be geared toward ending their lives. Islamic 'suicide' (AKA homicide) bombers have been proving this point for decades and longer.
As we have come to expect, Islam is protesting and rioting — yet again — over Israel's latest attempt at protecting itself from terrorist Islamic Hamas. These hordes have again taken to the streets — worldwide — in quite apparently planned and coordinated marches that are becoming increasingly violent. Across European cities, these synchronized massive gangs are calling for an end to Israel — no surprises here as the Left and Islam have been demanding this for many years. And Islam and its leftist accomplices are — yet again — referring to Israel's counter-strikes against its attackers as a 'massacre.' Note: This is the political way of tyrannical oppressors. They begin conflicts and affect murders while they claim to be the victims. Tragically for those of us who still maintain the ability for critical thinking, all too many of the dumbed-down populations have bought into this patently ludicrous argument.
So there we have it. Israel has again been forced into a conflict that is not of its own making but, is still expected to ignore the bleeding wounds caused by its muggers. And too many of the masses have accepted this underlying principle that no matter what Israel does it is wrong. This is the way in which anti-Semitism is currently being spread throughout the world by the world press. Many of us know what is to come. But, that does not alleviate us of our responsibility to inform others. And as Hamas continues to call itself the victim, it continues to launch rockets specifically intended against the civilian areas of Israel. Amazing. Are Israelis less human. Years of attacks by Hamas and no major outcry by the WORLD media. Two days of Israeli attacks and you can hear the whimpers and cries of Hamas and Islam in general thou out the world. Yes truly Amazing!!! Islam an aggressive violent cancer.......
'Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion'
Wow! What a sad joke you are.
Careful or the bogeyman might get you. I'm serious - he is out there right now!
At some point Israel will grasp that only total victory over Hamas will bring a lasting peace,not only for itself but also for those Palestinians who want a peaceful existence.
As for those who want war with Israel,a grave awaits. The world itself will benefit from an end to Hamas and all terrorist . (These days terrorism and Islam are rather inseparable)
Why am I so sure that Israel will dominate? If Hamas had the military means it would have invaded Israel and engaged in an all out war,putting an end to Israel. It is also clear that the Hamas folks believe that their collective no ceasing will,backed by their view of God will rule the day. For some reason they fail to understand that the Jews hold the same view and the same resolve along with the military might.
History tells it all, It's little wonder that the Crusades are so often cited as a reason to regard religion as a cause for violence in human history. The most immediate cause for the Crusades is also the most obvious: Muslim incursions into previously Christian lands. On multiple fronts, Muslims were invading Christian lands to convert the inhabitants and assume control in the name of Islam. From that time to the present,,nothing has changed.........................The Islamic mentality,its doctrine has not changed for well over 900 years,it will not change now.
This is not to say that Islamic people are bad or evil,just that Islam as a religion is rather
wanting and its not going to change.
page: 1
lanceDec 29th, 2008 - 18:40:39
Yawn.
Been there, done that.
And the game continues! Oh boy, perhaps they can make it into a series. These sporadic sequels are cool ... keep up the suspense and all, but I think it is high time this saga becomes a weekly series. Chuck Norris is getting old, but perhaps he can play Moses as a guest appearance now and then. Bruce Willis can be the kick ass President of the U.S. making the covert deals to sell weapons and kicking ass undercover in a split President/Covert Op role.
Of course, most of the stage crew and casting is already way over prepped and everyone knows their lines. Think of it! Millions of actors in a prime time series of adventure and mayhem. Such a show could last a lifetime or more!
And ofcourse, the Fox News channel can run the pilot and buy the rights to weekly televising. Ofcourse, then the script would already be written: U.S. and Isreal kicks muslim butt and wins every week! Maybe that would be a bad idea, too predictable.
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