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Israel-Palestine
U.N. Envoy Says Calls for Gaza Security
2004-04-24
A top U.N. envoy called Friday for international security to ensure Israel's complete withdrawal from Gaza and immediate implementation of a U.S.-backed peace plan. In one of his most forceful briefings, Terje Roed-Larsen told the U.N. Security Council that "it is unrealistic" to expect Israel and the Palestinians on their own to return to the path of peace.
Gosh, the Israelis tried so hard for so many years. What happened?
Roed-Larsen said he still believes that Israel's withdrawal from Gaza "if carried out in the way I tell them to do right way, can usher in a new era of peacemaking in the Middle East," despite the Palestinians' negative reaction. Earlier this week, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia sent a letter to Bush asking him to reconsider his support for the plan and his tacit recognition of some Israeli settlements. Powell called Qureia on Friday, saying the administration would study his letter and answer soon, aides to the prime minister said.
"Marvin! What do we say to this Qureia fella?"
"Not sure it matters, Mr. Secretary, as long as you sign the letter as 'Leon Klinghoffer.'"
"I also continue to maintain that if such a withdrawl is implemented the the Israelis want to do it wrong way it will lead to more violence," Roed-Larsen said in his U.N. comments. Roed Larsen said only the international community led by the four sponsors of the "road map" peace plan and the Security Council "can enable the parties to make the right choice."
Now that's the kind of UN arrogance I'm used to seeing.
Roed-Larsen said "temporary and internationally supervised security arrangements," instituted with the consent of both parties, would ensure Israel's security, enabling it to withdraw completely.
Until the Paleos start to shoot and explode the security people, who then would do a Uruguyan-style duck and cover.
An "international presence" would also enable the Palestinians "to live normally, free to attack the Israelis without fear of retaliation from Israeli controls," he said. Roed-Larsen said this would be one of the main subjects for discussion at a meeting of the Quartet on May 4 hosted by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Wonder who they'll ask to pony up the troops for any "international presence"?
Posted by:Steve White

#8  #7 Zhang Fei

It seems that Larsen does not like to recall how the UNIFILth troops in Lebanon gave cover to Hizbollah "operatives" at Kfar Kana. They would run out from the camp some 200 yards or so to fire a Katyusha rocket at Israel and then flee back to take cover. Unfortunately civilians sheltering in the camp were hit when artillery shells fell in the camp. Then the Dutch sent a general who accused Peres, then prime minister, of willfully aiming at the camp.
After Israel withdrew from Lebanon UNIFILth troops once again abetted Hizbollah by turning a blind eye to the invasion and kidnapping of three Israeli soldiers. It appears that some of the white SUVs were used in the attack. Koffi Annan denied for a year the existence of a video made of the attack.
And now UNSCUM is starting to make the news with its corrupt behaviour in helping Saddam beat the UN resolutions and also fill their pockets.

With all this how can an American support the use of his tax dollars in UN schemes?
Posted by: Barry   2004-04-24 12:39:14 PM  

#7  Right. These arrangements worked real well with Lebanon, such that Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad continued operating and killing Israelis. A UN peacekeeping force wouldn't change anything - it would serve as a check on Israeli actions (from a PR standpoint), while continuing to give the Palestinians a free hand in attacking Israelis. I object to this mainly because it's a waste of money. Say a 2,000 personnel presence costs $30,000 each per year. That's $600m for a force that does nothing. Forget it. The variety and cost of the expensive cockamamie schemes that the crooks at the UN come up with are just amazing.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2004-04-24 10:58:46 AM  

#6  Whose idea was it that we make our representative to the UN a G-7, whose only job is to attend these sessions to vote "no".

The UN is a joke. That is the perfect solution.
Posted by: B   2004-04-24 9:09:13 AM  

#5  ...they can only be tracked with radio-telescopes

LOL. Good one!
Posted by: Rafael   2004-04-24 7:33:04 AM  

#4  more UN idiocy. They've enabled Paleo terror with their refugee cities camps, their economic support of Arafat, and their opposition to Israel at every turn. F 'em. The Israeli withdrawal from Gaza will happen despite anything the UN would do, and getting blue helmets in would - as noted above - allow Paleo mortars and rockets to be shot into Israel from behind UN skirts - with howls of protest and wails of baby ducks and kittens slaughtered if Israel retaliates. Keep the UN out and make the Paleos run a country - should be entertaining
Posted by: Frank G   2004-04-24 6:43:08 AM  

#3  These folks are so far beyond parody they can only be tracked with radio-telescopes.
Posted by: IceCold   2004-04-24 1:32:30 AM  

#2  Roed-Larsen would cede to one of the Palis' long-standing demands: an international peacekeeping force. Essentially a hudna with UN paid-for bodyguards.
Posted by: Pappy   2004-04-24 1:00:32 AM  

#1  Send in the Spaniards since its a UN op - call Zappies bluff.
Posted by: OldSpook   2004-04-24 12:44:12 AM  

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