U.N. Security Council calls for end to Gaza violence

[Violet_Crumble]

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council called early on Sunday for an immediate halt to all violence in Gaza after a day of Israeli air strikes in response to rocket and mortar fire by Gaza militants against Israel.

"The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern at the escalation of the situation in Gaza and called for an immediate halt to all violence," said a statement read to reporters by Croatian Ambassador Neven Jurica, president of the council.

"The members called on the parties to stop immediately all military activities."

Palestinian medical officials said on Sunday that 271 Palestinians had been killed in 24 hours of Israeli attacks in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Since the operation began, one Israeli had been killed by Palestinian rocket fire.

Diplomats said the Security Council meeting had been convened at the request of Libya, the only Arab country on the council.

The statement, agreed upon after four hours of closed-door council discussions, called on all parties to address "the serious humanitarian and economic needs in Gaza."

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4BR0H920081228

[Kurska]

1. Hopefully Israel went into this with a clearly defined list of objectives

And they can finish them as quickly as possible.Israel just needs to find a way to end the rocket attacks.

[bemildred]

3. It doesn't sound like they did.

Lots of talk about it could go on for weeks and we might have to invade and final goals not all defined yet and like that. But that could be bullshit too.

I think I can pretty much guarantee, however this goes, that it won't end the rocket attacks, though it might result in some short interruption.

[Kurska]

5. Israel obviously wanted to wipe out any possible hamas military infastructure and weapon stores

As step one, I don't think any nation is foolish enough not to have a step two after that.I'm just wondering what that is and praying that it can be done quickly and effectively with a minimal loss of civilian life, atleast by what I've seen step one was okay at that.

[bemildred]

6. I think you are too optimistic.

There are plenty of fools out there on both sides. Winging it is almost a fetish in the IDF.

[Kurska]

8. Livini and barak are resting their political futures on this operation

I don't think either are foolish enough to go into it with the same vague objectives that plagued the 2006 conflict.

[bemildred]

17. Barak is. Barak is an idiot. He is Bushlike.

And a complete tool of the IDF.

[azurnoir]

21. delete superfluous question n/t

[azurnoir]

22. Barak has spoken

No ceasefire with Hamas: Barak

WASHINGTON, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Israel "cannot really accept" a ceasefire with Hamas, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in a U.S. television interview on Saturday, rejecting calls by the United Nations and the European Union for a truce after Israeli air strikes killed 227 people in Gaza.

"For us to be asked to have a ceasefire with Hamas is like asking you to have a ceasefire with al Qaeda. It's something we cannot really accept," Barak told Fox News from Tel Aviv.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak speaks during a press conference in his office in Tel Aviv on December 27, 2008.
Asked whether Israel would follow up the air strikes with a ground offensive, Barak said, "If boots on the ground will be needed, they will be there."

"Our intention is to totally change the rules of the game," he said.

http://www.chtv.com/ch/chchnews/story.html?id=1118902

[Violet_Crumble]

4. I don't think Israel is going to end rocket attacks this way...

If what's happened in the past is anything to go by, the rockets will only intensify. The only thing I can think of to end it is to get the ceasefire happening again (which of course takes Hamas as well as Israel to do) and if any rocket attacks do happen, a military response should be limited to those who are firing the rockets and done so in a way where civilians aren't likely to become victims. But right now I think both sides need to take a step back and let the heat die down...

[Kurska]

7. Thats provided that hamas has the military capabillity to intensify the conflict

So far is seems ALOT of hamas's weapons stores were hit and I wouldn't be surprised if Israel is banking on that to reduce rocket attacks while they finish their operation. Israel could also launch a ground assault right up the the brim of Gaza city. Although actually moving into the city would just be inviting a repeat of 2006, this time with buildings instead of hills.

All I can say is this is probably going to get much hotter before it goes cold.

[Alamuti Lotus]

10. Well, rocket attacks have already been increased

since this most recent assault began, more rockets than before are falling -- once again, strikes comparison to the 144th Lebanon War {forget this "Second" nonsense!}.. including the first Israeli casualty from them, as rockets fell on the border settlement of Nethivat (spelling likely butchered, picking this up from a satellite station in a language somewhat rusty to me these days).

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. There clearly were some launched, the real question is if there are any more left

The IAF is said to have targeted munitions storage locations that had been previously identified. For a number of reasons it would be expected that Hamas would be storing their stockpiles there and not in houses in border villages. Its remains to be seen how many more rockets, especially Grads, that Hamas still has. I did see a recent article that said 3 more people were killed in what looked to be pop up targeting of a launcher team, so some may still be out there.

[Countdown_3_2_1]

2. Gaza will never be free as long as Hamas murderers rule. (nt)

[davidinalameda]

9. how dare you call them murderers

they're butchers

[AnOhioan]

12. Gaza will never be free.....

as long as both sides have people in power who prefer death and bloodshed to actual progress. The Israeli gov't is as guilty as Hamas in this ongoing tribal bloodletting.

[Vegasaurus]

13. Gaza will never be free as long as they are the pawns and scapegoats of the Arab world nt

[AnOhioan]

14. Ah...I get it..Israel....pure and good

All the death and destruction in the area since Israel's inception has been the other guys. Right.

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

[Vegasaurus]

15. The death and destruction "in the area" is enhanced by Israel's presence

but there would be plenty of death and destruction without Israel.

The different Arab/Muslim factions can't get along, and they would still be murdering each other, with or without Israel.

It just makes it easier to blame Israel for their violence (i.e. "Fatah and Hamas have no unity because of Israel"), but make no mistake about it, the Arab on Arab violence all through the middle east cannot all be blamed on Israel.

Israel can be blamed for many things, but not the conflicts between the various sectarian Muslim groups.

[AnOhioan]

16. I may not have been clear...

When I used the phrase 'death and destruction' I was referring specifically to the conflicts that have included the State of Israel.

The civil war between Hamas and Fatah is a separate issue.

I agree with your statement that Israel cannot be blamed for that.

Israel was complicit in the Qibya Raid, the Six Day War, The Lebanese wars, The Osirak Raid, and most recently the Israeli air raid on Syria.

My point being the neither Israel nor the Arab states/parties are blameless for the morass that the region has become. I have been accused of having a bias against Israel. I guess objectivity passes for bias in this forum.

[subsuelo]

18. Stealing land is a dirty business

Sometimes you have to put down the natives

[oberliner]

19. Shooting rockets at Israeli civilians is a dirty business

Sometimes they shoot back.

[subsuelo]

20. Yes, bombing away at each others civilians, how brave.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

23. Even Arab sources are saying that the IAF targeted Hamas and Government buildings

When you use high explosive in built up areas, there is nothing surgical about it. However, its not like its been indiscriminate carpet bombing either. Isrealis have been claiming that their approach from the beginning was Hamas buildings and infrastructure. Ma'an has confirmed this.
http://maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=34246 confirms that (thanks to Progressive Muslim for the link)

http://maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=34293 has a useful time line.