France, Britain Offer EU Help on Gaza Monitoring

[cal04]

Source: Reuters

The European Union could help monitor traffic into Gaza to ensure humanitarian supplies reached the blockaded enclave without weapons getting in as well, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Sunday.

(snip)
"We can propose again that the European Union, European countries, monitor this passage in a very strict manner," Kouchner told reporters after meeting his British counterpart William Hague.

"We can very well monitor the cargoes of ships going to Gaza. We can do it, we'd like to do it, we'd be very happy about doing it," he said, adding that the situation in Gaza was "untenable."



Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE6550IM.htm

[Barack_America]

1. This is a way out that Israel out to take.

Thanks for posting it. I was going to, but I've been posting a bit too much in LBN this weekend.

[LakeSamish706]

2. Yep, they certainly should given the past week or so! If they don't step aside and

allow others to control in out of Gaza, Israel risks all out war in the ME.

[movonne]

3. and if israel get into it so will we....I wonder if we can afford another

war...

[LakeSamish706]

4. Yeah but then we would be turning our backs on fellow NATO members. Can we afford to do that?

We have already done it to Turkey over this disaster.

[Pavulon]

12. They will take that risk. The 3 and 0 record

is a general indication of the outcome. No one is going to war over 9 dead guys who got shot trying to brain guys with guns.

[sabrina 1]

5. Spain will be asking the EU to demand that the blockade

be lifted http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8496111.

It looks like the peace activists, almost all of whom were civilians from over 40 countries, have finally shamed governments into doing what they should have done long ago.

And it looks like the rest of the world is stepping in since the U.S. appears to have no control over what this Israeli government does. We are losing status in the world rapidly because on issues like this leadership was required and it just isn't going to come from the U.S.

[Pavulon]

6. Unless they plan on a war then can make demands

for the consumption of silly people who dont understand how blockades work. Israel is not going to allow Hamas to re arm.

[Barack_America]

7. You really feel confident Israel can take on the rest of the world by itself?

If you think the US would possibly choose Israel over the EU you are a fool.

[Pavulon]

9. You really feel confident that the EU would enter a war on the side of Hamas?(nt)

[LakeSamish706]

14. Don,t you dare make this a Hamas thing, because it is not! Israel has committed

Crimes against humanity here, and I am surprised that you have trouble seeing that.

[Pavulon]

18. Shooting armed men in a boarding party, then take the USCG to the hauge

if it were any other country say greece shooting italians, you people would not give a damn. The fact it is Israel is the prime mover for many.

[LakeSamish706]

20. Yeah, everyone on board that ship being boarded was no doubt having a great party (not likely).

Not sure why the US is backing Israel during this disaster, but I suspect it must be about money.

[proteus_lives]

26. As DU's number-one cheerleader for war against Israel...

Please tell us why.

[Barack_America]

30. Ha. That's funny.

I don't recall ever saying I hoped for war against Israel, because I don't.

I do recall saying, on numerous occasions, that Israel's govt. had best get their heads out of their asses before they lead their country to self-destruction. If you see that as the same thing, well, then I don't know what to say to you.

As for why the US would choose 20+ allies over 1, I think the numbers alone speak for themselves.

[LakeSamish706]

10. If war is what it takes to make Israel understand that they are not the end all

be all, then so be it. The World is fed up with Israel and there thug tactics.

[Pavulon]

11. Really. Now we get down to it.

so in your war who are the actors and what is the outcome.

[LakeSamish706]

13. The outcome is going to depend on how far Israel cares to take this, and the actors might surprise

you actually. Of course you might not have been paying attention to who is really pissed at Israel over this.

[Pavulon]

17. You think A or B, A turkey's islamist government leads them to war with Israel

or B, the military shoots them and literally dumps their bodies in the street. The secular military could give two shits about these dead guys. They are interested in fixing their breaking jets and continuing to purchase weapon systems from israel.

[LakeSamish706]

21. Who in turn gets their arms from the US. What a fuck up indeed. n/t

[Pavulon]

23. Google is awesome. Answer: both of them have us weapon systems.(nt)

[defendandprotect]

22. +1000%

[sabrina 1]

16. Israel will do what is necessary to keep its relations with other

countries, many of which are in serious danger of being cut off right now. Norway, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, Australia, France, Spain, just a few of those who have awakened to the fact that as their government representatives have said, this blockade is 'unsustainable'.

No one has to go to war, there are such things as sanctions. Many boycotts are already beginning, and it's clear that this will be a problem for Israel as they are already demanding that they stop.

You seem programmed to think only in terms of war. War would probably be the least effective way to end this blockade, as it generally is.

But sanctions, cuts in trade, boycotts, the ending of diplomatic relationships (Turkey has announced that even its military ties will end unless Israel apologizes for the loss of its citizens}. Even our own State Dept. not known for their willingness to criticize Israel, Hillary Clinton has stated that the blockade is unsustainable. So there seems to be a consensus.

Otoh, it doesn't have to come to that. Countries sometimes have to compromise especially when they find themselves at odds with the rest of the world. And Israel has signaled a willingness to ease the blockade so it could all work out for the best, for everyone in the end.

[LakeSamish706]

8. Sorta reminds one of the lack of leadership with the Gulf disaster! n/t

[defendandprotect]

15. Unless Israel now wants to war on France, Britain . . . they should cooperate with reason ....

[Pavulon]

19. Yeah, that will not happen. The UK and France arent going to war

over 9 dead pipe martyrs.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Catherina]

28. Welcome to DU. Don't go. n/t

[proteus_lives]

25. I don't think Israel would put it's security in the hands of others.

I don't think they should either.

[Catherina]

27. Bullshit. End the blockade you immoral creep n/t

[Catherina]

29. "we are turning this around" Washington, Paris, London are *fair* per Israel

Israeli spokesman Mark Regev said on Thursday that media outlets are finally beginning to see Israel's side of things. Translation: the propaganda campaign is working.

International understanding of the situation today is greater...We will never get a fair hearing at the UN Human Rights Council, but in Washington DC, London, Canberra, Paris, Rome, Ottawa and even Moscow, they can get it. I think we are creating a situation of greater understanding among the key international actors, and we are turning this around.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/06/06-3



Regev, who weathered very aggressive questions from the foreign press from the moment the flotilla raid began, said on Thursday that the questions have started becoming easier and much of the international community has finally internalized Israel’s side of the story.

He pointed out a story in the notoriously anti-Israel British Guardian newspaper defending Israel and a report in The Times of London investigating the IHH organization that was behind the flotilla. Foreign Ministry officials singled out pro-Israel editorials in The Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune.

“International understanding of the situation today is greater,” Regev said. “We will never get a fair hearing at the UN Human Rights Council, but in Washington DC, London, Canberra, Paris, Rome, Ottawa and even Moscow, they can get it. I think we are creating a situation of greater understanding among the key international actors, and we are turning this around.”

http://www.jpost.com/Features/FrontLines/Article.aspx?id=177434

[Scurrilous]

31. Israel 'to accept British plan to ease Gaza blockade'

Israel is poised to accept a British plan to ease its blockade of Gaza in exchange for international acceptance of a watered-down investigation into last week's deadly raid on a Turkish aid ship, sources said on Tuesday.

<snip>

"Britain is understood to have taken a leading role in the negotiations and last week circulated a confidential document proposing ways of easing the blockade, according to Western officials familiar with a draft version of the report.

Facing growing international criticism over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Israeli officials said that would agree, in principle, to permit the passage of substantially more aid through Israel's land crossings with the Hamas-controlled territory.

Since the Islamist group seized control in 2007, Israel has allowed only basic humanitarian supplies into Gaza, while forbidding the importation of most electronic and construction materials that it says could be used by Hamas for military purposes.

While aid agencies will welcome a relaxation of the rules, others, particularly Turkey, will be concerned about the price exacted by Israel. They fear the trade-off will mean that Israel is never held to account for the nine deaths on board the Mavi Marmara, the lead ship in an international flotilla that tried to break the naval blockade of Gaza last week.

Israeli officials denied there was any direct link between their willingness to cooperate over the blockade and the apparent ebbing of Western support for a UN-led international inquiry into to flotilla raid.

But a Western source close to international discussions with Israel said: "A quid pro quo deal is in the offing."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/7811798/Israel-to-accept-British-plan-to-ease-Gaza-blockade.html