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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| We need an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire – and then peace talks | We need an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire – and then peace talks |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The latest round of hostilities between Israel and Hamas (Black cloud of death hangs once more over Gaza and Israel, 16 November) once again points to the futility of tacit ceasefires that are not shored up by a serious international initiative to resolve the underlying Israeli-Palestinian conflict that would enable both peoples to exercise their self-determination, free of oppression or threat. It is also a timely reminder to a victorious President Obama that, as his second term begins, he can no longer fiddle while this vital part of the world burns and the hatred, including towards the US and the West, escalates. Yet no new peace initiative can be launched without a definitive ceasefire, so that has to be the immediate priority. | The latest round of hostilities between Israel and Hamas (Black cloud of death hangs once more over Gaza and Israel, 16 November) once again points to the futility of tacit ceasefires that are not shored up by a serious international initiative to resolve the underlying Israeli-Palestinian conflict that would enable both peoples to exercise their self-determination, free of oppression or threat. It is also a timely reminder to a victorious President Obama that, as his second term begins, he can no longer fiddle while this vital part of the world burns and the hatred, including towards the US and the West, escalates. Yet no new peace initiative can be launched without a definitive ceasefire, so that has to be the immediate priority. |
| It is obvious that neither side is in the mood to end the bombardment of the other, so outside intervention is essential. If the Arab League really wants to be helpful, let it convene an urgent summit in Gaza that would involve a scattering of meetings of dignitaries from member countries at different locations throughout the Strip. The Egyptian government that, as a token gesture, sent its prime minister into Gaza yesterday, could encourage tens of thousands of its citizens to cross the border and take a vacation all over the territory. | It is obvious that neither side is in the mood to end the bombardment of the other, so outside intervention is essential. If the Arab League really wants to be helpful, let it convene an urgent summit in Gaza that would involve a scattering of meetings of dignitaries from member countries at different locations throughout the Strip. The Egyptian government that, as a token gesture, sent its prime minister into Gaza yesterday, could encourage tens of thousands of its citizens to cross the border and take a vacation all over the territory. |
| The Israeli government could hardly not get the message and would effectively be forced to hold fire. The Arab League/Egyptian initiative would be predicated on Hamas behaving similarly and enforcing the truce on other militias. Once the initiative has achieved its narrow purpose, the principal belligerent parties should be given a limited period to submit their irrespective visions for end of conflict, based on two viable states and a comprehensive regional peace, followed by a robust global effort to implement an authoritative international plan, drawing on the parties' own proposals, as well as on principles long known and previously negotiated. The need is urgent but time is short. Dr Tony Klug London | The Israeli government could hardly not get the message and would effectively be forced to hold fire. The Arab League/Egyptian initiative would be predicated on Hamas behaving similarly and enforcing the truce on other militias. Once the initiative has achieved its narrow purpose, the principal belligerent parties should be given a limited period to submit their irrespective visions for end of conflict, based on two viable states and a comprehensive regional peace, followed by a robust global effort to implement an authoritative international plan, drawing on the parties' own proposals, as well as on principles long known and previously negotiated. The need is urgent but time is short. Dr Tony Klug London |
| • The Guardian has, in recent years, editorialised against the use of antisemitic language, publishing strong articles on this subject by Chris Elliott (the readers' editor), Jonathan Freedland and others. They have rightly noted that such language may well be inadvertent on the part of the user, while retaining its offensive power. Nevertheless, too many Guardian contributors continue to get away with using antisemitic imagery and tropes, the latest example being Steve Bell's cartoon (16 November) showing Tony Blair and William Hague as puppets of Bibi Netanyahu. This is an unoriginal way of visualising the old antisemitic charge that Jews are all-powerful. (The notion of Jewish power and conspiracy has long distinguished antisemitism from other racisms, which tend to depict their targets as idiots.) The paper's integrity and reputation is seriously compromised by its continuing failure to get a grip on its own content. Mark Gardner Community Security Trust | • The Guardian has, in recent years, editorialised against the use of antisemitic language, publishing strong articles on this subject by Chris Elliott (the readers' editor), Jonathan Freedland and others. They have rightly noted that such language may well be inadvertent on the part of the user, while retaining its offensive power. Nevertheless, too many Guardian contributors continue to get away with using antisemitic imagery and tropes, the latest example being Steve Bell's cartoon (16 November) showing Tony Blair and William Hague as puppets of Bibi Netanyahu. This is an unoriginal way of visualising the old antisemitic charge that Jews are all-powerful. (The notion of Jewish power and conspiracy has long distinguished antisemitism from other racisms, which tend to depict their targets as idiots.) The paper's integrity and reputation is seriously compromised by its continuing failure to get a grip on its own content. Mark Gardner Community Security Trust |
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