Italy calls for international force in GazaPrint
World
Written by Chris Perver  
Tuesday, 12 June 2007 17:00
The power struggle between the terrorist organizations Hamas and Fatah entered a new phase today, prompting calls from both Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema for the deployment of an international force that will be capable of keeping the peace in Gaza. The prospect of a Palestinian unity government restoring calm in the region now seems like a distant memory, as Hamas ambushed security bases throughout the Gaza Strip today, and may be on the verge of taking complete control of the territory. Prime Minister Olmert had previously stated he wouldn't send Israeli troops to fight Fatah's battles, and instead urged the international community to intervene. That call was repeated by Italian Foreign Minister D'Alema during an Israeli-Palestinian peace conference in Turkey today...

Quote: "Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said Rome backed a proposal by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to station international forces along the Gaza Strip's volatile border with Egypt to prevent arms from reaching Palestinian gunmen, including Hamas. "I find Olmert's proposals to be positive. However, it is an issue that needs to be discussed in detail," he said during a visit to Turkey.

The EU has stated they would consider of such a move, if all sides involved in the conflict supported the idea. The EU has repeatedly called for an international peace keeping force to be deployed in Gaza, but some states are reluctant to send peacekeepers to patrol what is fast becoming a war zone. Fatah officials had earlier stated that they believe Hamas was attempting a coup of the Gaza Strip, and it seems that is what is taking place. Over sixty people have been killed in the past four days in the former Jewish territory.

Quote: "A PA official expressed deep concern over Hamas's success in taking control of several Palestinian security installations. He revealed that Hamas had succeeded in laying its hands on large amounts of weapons belonging to the Fatah-controlled security forces in many parts of the Gaza Strip. "They have seized thousands of rifles, large amounts of ammunition and dozens of vehicles, including armored jeeps," he said. "This is really bad news for all."

Bad news for Javier Solana and his Middle East peace plan. Bad news for Ehud Olmert and Ariel Sharon and their "disengagement" experiment. Had anyone told these men this is what would be happening in under two years time from the disengagement from Gaza, I wonder would they have believed them. But they were warned. 

Joel 3:4-5
For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: 

Source Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem Post

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