A Cease-Fire in Gaza Is the Only Path to Peace in the Middle East

[Uncle Joe]

About the author: Rabah Arezki is a director of research at the French National Center for Scientific Research, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development and Harvard Kennedy School, and former head of commodities at the International Monetary Fund.

(snip)

These are dire circumstances. A cease-fire is the only bridge toward durable peace between Israelis and Palestinians and in the region as whole. All must make clear an Israeli life and a Palestinian life are worth the same.

The new cycle of violence between Israel and Palestine is sowing radicalization that will affect people on both sides for generations to come. The violence risks rapidly engulfing the whole region, including Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and beyond.

Beside the human toll, the military escalation in the Middle East bears bad news for the world economy. It adds to the energy and food crises stemming from the invasion of Ukraine. Rising energy prices will become a domestic political challenge for incumbent leaders around the world including in the U.S. and Europe but also China and India. Civil unrest is spreading globally, with protests rising in the U.S., Europe, and Middle East. As that pressure builds, so do the political costs. Indeed, the conflict will further support high energy prices and disrupt energy trade at a time when inflation remains rampant worldwide.

(snip)

Amid what seems like an impossible situation, a cease-fire remains the only bridge toward peace. The alternative would yield to the worst outcome for all parties. It is high time for a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestine issue, to end the bloodshed, and stop the escalation of violence. The U.S. remains a pivotal actor in the region also given its military presence, even as its economic presence is winding down to the benefit of China. The two super powers around which the global north and global south gravitate have not only a stake in peace but also a responsibility to find a pathway toward it. To get there, a cease-fire must be imposed in Gaza.

https://www.barrons.com/articles/ceasefire-middle-east-israel-hamas-gaza-egypt-lebanon-01a814bf?mod=hp_LEAD_5

[SouthernDem4ever]

1. Deja Vu

[Beastly Boy]

2. There was a cease fire in Gaza prior to October 7

What happened to peace in the Middle East?

[Uncle Joe]

3. From the OP

"Amid what seems like an impossible situation, a cease-fire remains the only bridge toward peace. The alternative would yield to the worst outcome for all parties. It is high time for a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestine issue, to end the bloodshed, and stop the escalation of violence. The U.S. remains a pivotal actor in the region also given its military presence, even as its economic presence is winding down to the benefit of China. The two super powers around which the global north and global south gravitate have not only a stake in peace but also a responsibility to find a pathway toward it. To get there, a cease-fire must be imposed in Gaza.



A cease-fire to the status quo will not work any better than it has since before October 7th. apartheid is not the answer.

A negotiated peace treaty with a bold, new vision is the only answer to this catastrophe or Israel and Palestine will be in eternal groundhog day, if this conflagration doesn't spread to the rest of the world first.

[Beastly Boy]

6. C'mon, Uncle. Apartheid?

I know you well enough to trust you to look up the Rome Convention for the definition of apartheid.

And who are the parties to these negotiations? Netanyahu and Khameni?

At this point, there are no legitimate negotiating partners on either side. Cease fire will not change this.

[Uncle Joe]

7. Yes

[Beastly Boy]

8. With all due respect to Mr. Coates,

popularizing a meme doesn't change the definition of apartheid.

[cloudbase]

4. How does Israel make peace with a government

whose charter calls for the total elimination of Jews worldwide?

[Uncle Joe]

5. There are several ways around or through this via negotiations

If Hamas expects to be a political player, this absolutely needs to be dropped from their charter.

If Hamas doesn't accept peace as a democratically elected political player, then it will be much more difficult for Israel to eliminate Hamas without remaining trapped in this never, ending cycle of fear, hatred and violence with the potential for global escalation.