Voice Of America News (Link) - Lisa Bryant (January 22, 2009)
As the last Israeli troops left the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, European Union foreign ministers in Brussels urged Israel to lift its blockade of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian territory. The ministers met in Brussels with their Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni late Wednesday. The Europeans have sent official missions to the Middle East to seek a truce in the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The 27-member block is the biggest aid donor to the Palestinians.
Although a truce has been struck, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana told reporters the stakes are high in maintaining the cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which runs Gaza. "I would like to say the situation is still fragile, the ceasefire is fragile. And all the efforts have to be made to make it solid, to make it durable, to make it sustainable. I would like to say also it is very important that Gaza is open, that crossings are open and the help that the international community is willing to give can arrive to those in need," he said.
Mr. Solana said the European Union is committed politically to maintaining the cease-fire and committed economically to helping the Palestinians. He said the E.U. also wants to ensure a secure future for the Palestinians and for the Middle East peace process.
Palestinian medics say Israeli forces killed 1,300 Palestinians in the fighting. Thirteen Israelis were killed by Hamas rocket attacks on Israel.
The European Union says it hopes the new U.S. administration of President Barack Obama will breathe new life into the Mideast peace process. But the E.U. ministers downplayed the chance of discussions with Hamas in the near future.
The best thing Israel can do is to ignore the EU and take care of its own business I.E. running Hamas out of existence and tell the EU and the rest of the planet to mind its own business.The EU should realize that the reason that Israel is doing what they are doing is defend themselves against a bunch of thugs who use kids and women as shields like "real men" and store all their weapons under a hospital. Israel isn't the bad guy here. They showed more patience that most would in having rockets landing in the living room on a daily basis. It makes me feel like going over there and pitching the Israeli leadership out the window for waiting as long as they did to do something about it. There is one thing for sure, if any other country reacted like Israel they would be vindicated for their action but the world hates Israel and they are always portrayed as the aggressor.Israel don't pay any attention to the winyass liberals of the world and take care of Israel and find some leadership with a backbone.ROCK ON!
Posted by: Tim Casey | January 26, 2009 at 07:34 AM