German peacekeepers suggested for Gaza (Roundup)

[bemildred]

Berlin - Germany welcomed Wednesday a proposal by Egypt's President Hosny Mubarak for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and supporters of Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested German peacekeepers be sent to Gaza.

'If the parties to the conflict were to desire it, German soldiers could of course play a role,' said Gert Weisskirchen, a Social Democratic spokesman on foreign policy in remarks to the Spiegel Online news website.

He called for Germany to voice from the very beginning a 'willingness' to send troops under a UN Security Council resolution.

His SPD party is part of Merkel's ruling coalition.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1452152.php/German_peacekeepers_suggested_for_Gaza__Roundup__

[GoesTo11]

1. Large numbers of peacekeepers would be great

To the extent that what Israel wants is for Hamas to not attack them and what the Palestinians want is for Israel to not attack them, anyone who could ensure that would have a lot of the problem solved. On the other hand, a truly effective and long term peacekeeping force might cost more - in terms of both money (maybe tens of billions of $ per year) and lives - than donor countries end up willing to pay.

[The Magistrate]

2. The Jokes Just Write Themselves, My Friend....

My preference would be for Chinese Buddhists, under strict orders to take no guff from men with beards....

[bemildred]

3. Indeed Sir.

I doubt this will go anywhere, but the story was too good to pass up.