Israel Vows to Cease Fighting in Gaza - thank you President Obama

[spanone]

this is because adults will be in charge of the white house next week

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/17/AR2009011700592_pf.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Darn straight

you know that is why they have decided to cease fire.

[JCMach1]

8. But also key to the timing of the event :(

[The Magistrate]

2. Doubtless, Sir, The Proprieties Of the Coming Week Had Something To Do With The Timing

This has been a bad business all around.

[spanone]

3. i agree with The Magistrate

:patriot:

[Chulanowa]

4. It's not going to help and this is why...

"He said a withdrawal would depend on whether Hamas would also stop fighting and launching rockets into southern Israel.

"If they stop firing, we will consider leaving Gaza at a time that is suitable to us," he said in a televised address to the Israeli public."

Hamas is guaranteed to keep fighting so long as Israeli forces remain in Gaza. Even if I'm wrong (and hey, let's hope I am!) Olmert is saying that Israeli troops will leave "whenever"

It's a fucking PR stunt

[spanone]

5. nothing has helped since 1948.....this only increases terrorism

hamas will not stop the rockets....and on and on and on and on

[peacetalksforall]

6. The coutry HAS BEEN INVADED AND OCCUPIED. They only thing they have not done

is plunder UNLESS you consider LIVES BODY LIMBS ORGANS BASICS OF LIFE LAUGHING CHILDREN JOBS CAREERS ELECTRICITY FREEDOM TO MOVE MEDICAL AID. THAT'S PLUNDERING THE WAY I SEE IT. They invaded the prison and have placed them in a form of solitary confinement. WHAT ARE THE CHILDREN SEEING - CRYING AND MOANING PARENTS MISSING PARENTS GUNS BURNED TO THE BONE SKIN. WHAT ARE THEY/HAVE THEY BEEN HEARING - LOW FLYING F-16s SMOKE FIRE SCREAMING SIRENS.

Let's write it as it is.

Even the UN - Israel declared war on the world.

Anyone saying that history does not repeat itself?

[John Kerry VonErich]

7. Ummmm, what did he do to to get a cease fire?

nt

[Ani Yun Wiya]

9. I thought there was still "only one President" at a time.

At any rate, who did Obama call to "stop" this incursion (which actually did NOT stop entirely) ?

[pampango]

10. Two losing strategies that never seem to change.

Israel: Massive military force leading to more civilian casualties and attacks on Israel (before the wall - suicide bombers, now - rockets that go over the wall).

Hamas: More (largely ineffective, except for the PR value) attacks on Israel leading to response with massive military force and civilian casualties.

By now it is a "chicken and egg" quandary. Each side says they are only responding to the others attacks. Which in turn gives the other side a reason to attack.

This rationalization can go back to the founding of Israel (Palestinians: "Why our land?")and the resulting war to eliminate it (Israel: "You want to destroy us.". From the start neither side has had a reason to trust the other. Of course, most supporters of either side only go back to some more recent event to justify their actions - rocket or suicide bombing attacks, occupation/blockade, military attacks to destroy the country, etc.

I agree that Israel's unilateral ceasefire has everything to do with Obama's inauguration and I wish him good luck in getting the sides to talk with each other. Hamas' leaders may not think the organization can survive with a strategy of negotiating with Israel to achieve practical gain. Israel's leaders may prefer to keep Hamas as the "bad guy" that you can't negotiate with to solve long term problems and produce benefits for everyone, but which will require some sacrifices by some Israelis.

[MadHound]

11. Wait, I thought he hadn't even been sworn in yet

And therefore had done nothing, could be blamed for nothing, etc.

But now somehow he brought about this ceasefire? Yeah, right, whatever. What's next, turning water into wine and raising the dead?

[malaise]

12. From the article

Saturday's strike prompted U.N. officials to ask for an independent investigation to determine whether a war crime had been committed.

All war criminals have to be locked up or our planet will never be safe.