It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by GAOTU789
An article from a retired General in the Canadian Forces puiblished today in the Globe and Mail.
What is the UN waiting for? Deploy a strong force to Gaza
On their own, Israel and Hamas are doomed to a perpetual state of war no matter how much international diplomatic horsepower is applied to resolving the conflict. But there is a solution that the world has been adroitly avoiding for 40 years.
The Security Council needs to show some rare backbone and authorize a strong UN force under the UN Charter's Chapter 7, which authorizes the use of deadly force as necessary, and deploy it within the Gaza Strip, taking on the responsibility to provide the security to which Israel is entitled.
The oft-expressed idea of putting international monitors into the Gaza Strip to control smuggling and the firing of rockets is ludicrous: Hamas would run rings around any unarmed outsiders whose only mandate was to "observe and report."
It's an idea that may have some merit, except I don't see HAMAS taking kindly to it and could see many small arms battles between the UN force and HAMAS if this solution is used.
[edit on 6-1-2009 by GAOTU789]
Originally posted by jam321
reply to post by GAOTU789
A strong UN force with the authorization to use force is an excellent idea. That would definitely show that the UN has a backbone. The only problem then would be finding countries with the backbone to supply those troops to the UN force.
"We are not looking for a cease-fire, but a cease of terror," said Peres, adding that Israel is carefully reviewing the cease-fire plan outlined by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Despite increasing international pressure on Israel to withdraw its troops, a senior official confirmed that plans had been drawn up to move troops into the south as well.
JERUSALEM, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Israel said on Wednesday it viewed "positively" talks with Egypt over a proposal to halt fighting in the Gaza Strip but the Jewish state stopped short of accepting a ceasefire.
reply to post by Alpha_Magnum
I would imagine that as the Israeli population grows the land allotted to the Palestinians shrinks. The simple reality is that land is a resource as well as energy. The Israelis are the dominant group and that simply squeezes the Palestinians.
PARIS, Jan 7 (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday Israel had accepted an Egyptian truce plan for Gaza, but his office later said he was simply welcoming Israel's previously announced reaction to the proposal.