UN to move 20 workers from Gaza to Jerusalem

[drdon326]

The United Nations has decided to move 20 people working in UN facilities in Gaza - about a third of its foreign crews - to the UN headquarters in Armon Hanatziv in Jerusalem. The other 40 non-Palestinians working for the UN in Gaza will remain at their jobs.

The transfer was ordered by Peter Hansen, UNRWA commissioner general in Gaza, who is also responsible for the security of all the UN organizations operating in the strip. According to a Hansen spokesman, the transfer of the 20 was the result of "the security situation in the area of the Erez Junction and Beit Hanoun, where IDF forces are operating and which endanger the movement of UN people entering and leaving Gaza."

But other international groups operating in Gaza said that the real reason for the redeployment of the civilian foreigners is the deteriorating security in recent months, and particularly the events in Gaza last weekend when French aid workers were briefly kidnapped by armed Palestinians.

Since the October 2003 attack on an American diplomatic convoy in which three American security guards were killed, diplomatic missions in Gaza have beefed up their security. Sources in Gaza said that two months ago, Secretary General Kofi Annan was warned by a third party that an armed faction in Gaza was plotting to kidnap Annan's envoy to the region, Terje Roed Larsen, in an attempt to pressure the Israeli government.

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/454056.html

[drdon326]

1. Riiiiiight kofi....

its ok for israel to have to deal with these terrorists
but no the UN workers.


blatent unmitigated hypocrisy.

[lefty_mcduff]

2. "The other 40 non-Palestinians..."

... working for the UN in Gaza will remain at their jobs."

Guess you missed that part.

[newyorican]

5. don't count....

at least not in the simple-minded obsession with UN bashing....

[Classical_Liberal]

3. Israel always has the option of leaving the West Bank

There is nothing hypocritical about it.

[Djinn]

4. Really

that's funny because I never knew that the UN was forcing or even suggesting to Israel to stay in Gaza.

[Gimel]

7. Erez Junction and Beit Hanoun

Erez Junction is a crossing point into Israel, which is maintained largely for the benefit of the Palestinian workers to pass into Israel. Beit Hanoun is the area where the rockets being fired into Israel are originating. These are trouble spots. Yes, the IDF should remain there.

[Djinn]

8. Missed the point

being made in response to don's claim that the UN are hypocritical for leaving Gaza, that is that the UN is not telling the Israeli they should be there.

And on the "benefit of Palestinians" bit - I guess there's no benefit for Israel in all that cheap labour - just do it out of the goodness of tehir hearts.

[Gimel]

9. The point you made

is then off the subject, because the UN doesn't tell Israel what to do. It is not directing the show. The UN is providing relief.

Of course I have not precluded that Israeli businesses and agriculture don't need the laborers. That is obvious. People don't hire workers in the capitalist market scheme just to be kind to them.

[Djinn]

10. Try reading the thread Gimel

I was (as I stated in the above post) responding to don's post:

"it's ok for israel to have to deal with these terrorists
but no the UN workers...blatent unmitigated hypocrisy."

making the point that it's NOT hypocrisy for the UN to leave Gaza as it's not like they've ever suggested that Israel should stay there.

It was utterly ON subject :eyes:

[Gimel]

11. As you wish

Your post stated:

I never knew that the UN was forcing or even suggesting to Israel to stay in Gaza.

This is what I was responding to. I did not post Don's comment, so I'm not responding for him. The article makes it clear that some UN workers remain in GAza, not in those specified areas. I see no problem moving them to a safer post for the time being.

If there is no peace, UN workers or peace keepers have no role.

[Djinn]

12. right

so how does your original post even relate to mine? I mention that the UN has never told/suggested Israel stay in Gaza - you say YOU beleive that the IDF should stay there???? and apparently the price of tea in china has just gone up??

[Gimel]

13. Sorry

I though we were discussing I/P.

I do think that the IDF should stay there to fight terrorism. Erez is the crossing point where many attacks have taken place, and Beit Hanoun is the area where rockets are being fired into Israel, yesterday one which landed in a family bedroom where a woman and children were sleeping.

The UN has removed relief workers for their safety. It is not safe for anyone at these points, as numerous attacks have taken place at the Arez crossing. Israel must maintain the crossing for the benefit of Palestinians. Foreign workers are hired by Israeli agriculture and factories to replace the Palestinians.

[Violet_Crumble]

14. I think most people here got what you were saying...

...seeing as how most people actually do read the posts of the people yr responding to in the first place before jumping in :)

Violet...

[Name removed]

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