UN chief: Gaza deaths and destruction shame world

[DonViejo]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says “the massive deaths and destruction in Gaza have shocked and shamed the world” and is demanding an end to “the senseless cycle of suffering” in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“We will build again, but this must be the last time to rebuild,” the U.N. chief told the General Assembly Wednesday. “This must stop now. We must go back to the negotiating table.”

Ban said the U.N. understands Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas rockets but “the horror that was unleashed on the people of Gaza” raises serious questions about respect for international law that requires a distinction between civilians and combatants and proportionality.

U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay told the assembly that “any attacks in violation of these principles …. may amount to war crimes.”

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Read more: http://www.salon.com/2014/08/06/un_chief_gaza_deaths_and_destruction_shame_world/

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. There needs to be a just peace in Palestine. This needs to get settled.

But I get the sense that Israel is no longer really interested in the two-state solution, so what does that leave?

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. Israel has never been interested in a two-state solution.

Sharon's refusal to halt settlement expansion spiked the peace talks in 2004. Netanyahu has said recently that "Israel will never relinquish security control of the West Bank".

[hack89]

6. Neither is Hamas

"politically, the two-state solution is over" and that "we are entering the phase of the liberation of Palestine... the notion of Return: the return of the refugees to their homeland, and the return of the Israelis to the countries from which they came."

Osama Hamdan

[Spider Jerusalem]

10. Whether Hamas supports it is not relevant

since Israel holds all the cards. Bad faith and continued breach of obligations by Israel is responsible for the failure of the two-state solution.

[hack89]

11. Of course. Silly me.

I keep forgetting that Hamas is powerless in all of this.

[oberliner]

8. None of the parties are particularly keen on it

But it's too bad for them.

[BillZBubb]

3. Until the whole world forces Israel to leave the West Bank, this will not end.

Israel wants to annex the West Bank, or at least all the useful portion. Until forced to do so, they won't leave. The Palestinians don't have the military capacity to change the situation and never will.

So, the big powers of the world have to make a decision. Continue allowing Israel to "ethnic cleanse" whatever parts of the West Bank it wants with settlements. The Palestinians will resist, but the world can continue to do what it has in the past, NOTHING (or in the case of the US, back Israel's expansion).

Or, the world could finally decide enough is enough. A total boycott of Israel until Israel sits down with the Palestinians in good faith and establishes a fair, viable state of Palestine. That state would have to have the overwhelming support of the Palestinians. It would be something along the lines of Saudi proposal that Israel rejected out of hand.

I'm guessing the world does nothing.

[mazzarro]

4. I agree

The world has to impose a settlement just like the world imposed the state of Israel. The farce about negotiation between Israel and the Palestinians is long past it's usefulness and any continued delay of a solution is only a cover for the elimination of the Palestinians.

[hack89]

5. I think ISIS is going change the entire calculus

as they attempt to rewrite the ME map. Once they move into Lebanon the world is not going to give a shit about the West Bank as they face a major war involving Hezbollah, ISIS and Israel.

[4dsc]

7. Like Israel is interested in peace

try not to kid ourselves here. Israel is not and never had been interested in peace. They want a Greater Israel and that means not stopping till they get there.

[oberliner]

9. Too bad

Peace is the only answer.

[SnakeEyes]

13. Israel has given up land for peace

They have pulled back militarily as well. Stop the nonsense that they don't want peace.

[WillyT]

12. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[countryjake]

14. K&R!