Sarkozy leads international pressure on Israel to halt Gaza bloodshed

[FarCenter]

Source: The Guardian

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, today led intensifying international efforts to force a ceasefire in Gaza, despite Israel insisting it was not yet ready to call a halt to its eight-day offensive.

Signs have begun to emerge of the shape of a potential deal on a truce and new border arrangements, though analysts said these were still unlikely to be agreed quickly.

Sarkozy flew to Israel after a meeting with the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, about the Gaza crisis. After talks in the West Bank town of Ramallah, the French leader said he would tell Israel's prime minister, Ehud Olmert, that "violence must stop".

"We in Europe want a ceasefire as quickly as possible, and that everyone understands that time is running against peace," Sarkozy said. "The guns must fall silent, there must be a humanitarian truce. Everyone must understand that what is at stake here is not just an issue of Israel and Palestinians, it is a global issue and it is the whole world which will help you find a solution."


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/05/sarkozy-gaza-israel-ceasefire

[Cha]

1. Good..There's enough

blame to go around but they need to stop killing the innocents right now.

[Doctor_J]

2. Uh-oh. Even the Euroright is against us.

:scared:

Looking for work in Canada before WWIII breaks with us & Israel against everyone else.

[aquart]

3. Mubarak say why he won't let them out thru Egypt?

Which would certainly alleviate the "1.5 million in a cage" problem.

[Ghost Dog]

4. A cease fire and humanitarian assistance is the immediate priority.

Mubarak doesn't want to encourage the Egyptian Moslem Brotherhood (but pressure should be brought to bear on both Egyptian and Israeli governments).

It wouldn't be very possible to reach Rafah from Gaza City with ambulances at the moment, would it (Gaza cut in half)?

[saigon68]

8. Mubarak = ???

[know_your_enemy]

5. Sarkozy is a good pick...

He brokered the peace treaty between Russia and Georgia.

The French have negotiation down to an art. I think he will get something done.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

6. It's nice to see France attempting to reclaim its global diplomatic role.

At the very least it will keep other "peace brokers" (us) more honest.

[Darth_Kitten]

7. I wouldn't trust Sarkozy.........

n/t