UN chief: Gaza deaths and destruction shame world
Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS
UNITED NATIONS (AP) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the massive deaths and destruction in Gaza have shocked and shamed the world and is demanding an end to the senseless cycle of suffering in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
We will build again, but this must be the last time to rebuild, the U.N. chief told the General Assembly Wednesday. This must stop now. We must go back to the negotiating table.
Ban said the U.N. understands Israels right to defend itself from Hamas rockets but the horror that was unleashed on the people of Gaza raises serious questions about respect for international law that requires a distinction between civilians and combatants and proportionality.
U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay told the assembly that any attacks in violation of these principles
. may amount to war crimes.
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Read more: http://www.salon.com/2014/08/06/un_chief_gaza_deaths_and_destruction_shame_world/
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)But I get the sense that Israel is no longer really interested in the two-state solution, so what does that leave?
Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)Sharon's refusal to halt settlement expansion spiked the peace talks in 2004. Netanyahu has said recently that "Israel will never relinquish security control of the West Bank".
hack89
(39,171 posts)Osama Hamdan
Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)since Israel holds all the cards. Bad faith and continued breach of obligations by Israel is responsible for the failure of the two-state solution.
hack89
(39,171 posts)I keep forgetting that Hamas is powerless in all of this.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)But it's too bad for them.
BillZBubb
(10,650 posts)Israel wants to annex the West Bank, or at least all the useful portion. Until forced to do so, they won't leave. The Palestinians don't have the military capacity to change the situation and never will.
So, the big powers of the world have to make a decision. Continue allowing Israel to "ethnic cleanse" whatever parts of the West Bank it wants with settlements. The Palestinians will resist, but the world can continue to do what it has in the past, NOTHING (or in the case of the US, back Israel's expansion).
Or, the world could finally decide enough is enough. A total boycott of Israel until Israel sits down with the Palestinians in good faith and establishes a fair, viable state of Palestine. That state would have to have the overwhelming support of the Palestinians. It would be something along the lines of Saudi proposal that Israel rejected out of hand.
I'm guessing the world does nothing.
The world has to impose a settlement just like the world imposed the state of Israel. The farce about negotiation between Israel and the Palestinians is long past it's usefulness and any continued delay of a solution is only a cover for the elimination of the Palestinians.
hack89
(39,171 posts)as they attempt to rewrite the ME map. Once they move into Lebanon the world is not going to give a shit about the West Bank as they face a major war involving Hezbollah, ISIS and Israel.
4dsc
(5,787 posts)try not to kid ourselves here. Israel is not and never had been interested in peace. They want a Greater Israel and that means not stopping till they get there.
Peace is the only answer.
SnakeEyes
(1,407 posts)They have pulled back militarily as well. Stop the nonsense that they don't want peace.