Italy says it would consider sending troops to Gaza

[maddezmom]

More ROME, May 16 (Reuters) - Italy would consider sending peacekeepers to the Gaza Strip if the Palestinian government requested help to end factional fighting, Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said on Wednesday.

But D'Alema called for political pressure, including from the Arab world, to end the fighting between ruling Hamas Islamists and secular Fatah, which has killed at least 40 Palestinians since Friday.

"If the Palestinian Authority asked for international help to guarantee security in Gaza, that could be considered," he said. "Still, I believe that at this moment, one must exercise political pressure on the sides that are clashing that are paradoxically part of the same government."

Italy is leading the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon. D'Alema said last year that if the Lebanon force proved effective, a similar force could be used in Gaza.

more:http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/05/16/wednesday/index.html

[msmcghee]

1. Where's the link to The Onion?

[Violet_Crumble]

2. I'm failing to see any sort of satire in the CNN article...

Maybe you could point out what you saw in it that made you think it was?

[msmcghee]

3. There's a difference between . .

. . satire and irony. Think about it.

[Violet_Crumble]

4. I know what the difference is. Maybe you can explain why you thought this should be in the Onion?

I'm curious to know if you have anything positive to say about steps taken by the international community to try to do something to stop what's happening...

[Shaktimaan]

5. Really?

Someone's doing something? That's great news, I must have missed it.
What have they managed to do exactly?

Or were you just congratulating them for "trying" to do something. Because "trying" is great too, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I wish they put half as much effort into their actions as they put into their armchair rhetoric.

[breakaleg]

6. So you want the international community to try to push for an agreement?

Because Israel is the party that's preventing this by refusing to give up what isn't theirs.

[Shaktimaan]

7. You think?

Because I seem to remember that an agreement already exists. I also remember that the Palestinians did not fulfill a single requirement under it. Whereas Israel kept their side up until it totally disintegrated.

I also remember peace being achieved with Egypt despite Israel occupying land that was undeniably not theirs. A whole lot of it. With settlements. Yet now we are supposed to believe that there would be a peace agreement if only Israel would leave that 2% of the west bank that technically does not belong to the Palestinians any more than the Israelis? (Actually, since some of that land was purchased by Israel FROM the Palestinians it seems hard to understand why it doesn't belong to them.) And... who told you about this inevitable peace deal? Because it isn't what anyone with the authority to make peace is saying. Like, I don't know... any of the terrorist groups. But I am sure that you have far greater insight as to what will stop terrorism than the terrorists themselves. :sarcasm:

Remember when everyone was saying that Israel would have peace with Hezbollah if only they would leave Lebanon? I do. When's that going to come about? Remember when people were saying that the Palestinians would leap at the chance to build their own peaceful society if only they were given some autonomy? But then when they were given a modicum of autonomy they proved unable to even keep from chronically killing each other over basic governmental issues and stupid power struggles. Oh, but they'll SURELY be able to not do that to the Israelis if only they had MORE AUTONOMY, right? Even though they swear otherwise. And have never upheld a single responsibility asked of them in any agreement with anyone, ever. Even Arab nations. And other Palestinians. And everyone else. Ever.

I have a question. If the UN doesn't recognize land taken by force, then if the Palestinians succeed in driving every Israeli out of East Jerusalem does that mean that Palestine would then be illegally occupying that land?

[breakaleg]

9. OK.

So if you go and buy a house in Canada does the land that house sits on become American soil?

Keep wearing those blinders about the settlements. It won't do you any good, but as long as it makes you happy...

[oberliner]

11. The West Bank is not considered part of any state under international law

Canada, on the other hand, is a UN member state.

[Shaktimaan]

13. Hey!

Aren't you going to answer my question?

If the UN doesn't recognize land taken by force, then if the Palestinians succeed in driving every Israeli out of East Jerusalem does that mean that Palestine would then be illegally occupying that land?

And I had been saving it special, just for you!

[breakaleg]

14. Isn't all of Jerusalem designated to be an international city by the UN?

So, Palestinians can't "win" it from Israel any more than Israel can steal it from them. Technically, neither party can claim it above the other. So, it seems a negotiated settlement is in order where they each get to keep half.

[Shaktimaan]

15. No, it isn't designated an international city by the UN.

You are referring to a non-binding proposal that was rejected by the entire middle east save Israel and thus, never implemented.

But to avoid getting off-track here, let's say the West Bank instead of EJ then... how about Hebron for simplicity's sake. If the PA drives all of the settlers out of Hebron and move in, then according to your understanding of the law, would they then not be an illegal occupier as you say Israel is? 242 says that any land aquired by force is inadmissable, right? So do you see that as applying to everyone or just Israel?

[barb162]

12. That was an excellent summation of some of the problems

Really excellent. Bravo.

[Violet_Crumble]

8. Read the article that started the thread...

It's interesting to note that the only 'supporters' of Israel in this thread are more interested in pooh-poohing international attempts to help than actually adding anything constructive to the thread. It makes me wonder if some people are interested in the violence in Gaza being stopped...

[Shaktimaan]

10. You know, you're right.

If only we could bring ourselves to BELIEVE in the Italians then maybe, gosh darn it, they would have a shot. Quickly, everybody, hold hands, close your eyes and for the first time in your miserable lives allow yourselves to DREAM! Yes, dream, DREAM as though your whole world depended on it. Because no matter what those fat cats and government lobbyists up in Washington say I know that the magic isn't gone. Not yet anyway. Everybody ready? Go!

OK, that should do it.

But on the off chance it doesn't then maybe we could give rational policymaking a shot. Because no one's tried that yet either.