The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon is in Egypt today for peace talks in the hope of ending the conflict in Gaza. He will go on to meet several leaders in the Middle East. The UN’s call for a ceasefire has been ignored so far, so why will Hamas and Israel listen now ? Israeli sources have been saying that Hamas is ready for a ceasefire as they are “in shock”.
The situation continues to deteriorate in the region with a second rocket attack from Lebanon yesterday and Israel responding with artillery fire. Is there a danger of the conflict spreading before it stops ?
Some analysts believe that the two countries in the Middle East who have the power to stop the crisis, Egypt and Syria are exploiting their negotiations with Hamas in order to secure Arab leadership in the region. What do you think of the role other Arab nations have played in trying to secure a peace ?
Barack Obama will be sworn into office in a week – WHYS will be there too – The new president’s Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton talked yesterday about how American diplomacy will now be based on ‘smart power’, with fact not emotion guiding their actions. Does this phrase have any meaning ? Is it a welcome change of approach ? How will “smart power” help in the Middle East ?
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BBC World Have Your Say 
This topic is getting boring. Please move on to something else.
The UN already has several resolutions on this conflict, none of which have been adhered to or enforced. In the absence of any kind of justice, each warring party will take it upon themselves to beat the other into submission.
The likes of Hezbollah were created during the Israeli occupation of Lebanon with the purpose of defeating the Zionists.
The likes of Hamas were created during the Israeli occupation of Palestine, again with the purpose of defeating the Zionists.
The UN should work to enforce the resolutions and end the occupation of Palestine and the list of injustices that comes along with it. This in itself will diminish support and legitmacy of groups with the agenda of war.
Alas, I fear Arnold is right. I feel horrible saying this while innocent people are being killed…but there is little new to say. If I had a solution…or even a salient new comment I’d post it here in a moment. But other than increasing frustration and despair, I’ve nothing new to say.
Instead of Gaza, how about discussing this OFFER OF THE PERFECT JOB.. A publicity stunt I know, but a bigger question is: “can you run away to some kind of utopia and leave your problems behind?” Enough people think so that the web site has been crashing on and off since the ad went up.
Or, if you don’t like that, how about ADVERTISING ATHEISM ON BRITISH BUSES. Is this the ultimate sign that the world is turning secular? Is it a valid reaction to some of the hateful advertising place by religion? For that matter, is the “enjoy yourself” line another reflection of the ideals expressed on the “perfect job” ad?
The U.N. created this situation in 1948 and has done nothing but wring it’s hands ever since. Every U.S. administration has been held hostage by Israel for the last 60 years, we have poured billions into keeping it armed and arrogant and have received nothing but grief in return. It’s best relations with all of it’s neighbors have been nothing but temporary cease-fires in all that time, every attempt to work out a compromise has been rejected and if Hillary thinks she’s smarter than anyone else who has tried to deal with the problem it doesn’t bode well for a resolution. As the saying goes – with friends like this who needs enemies?
Enough is enough. I say it’s time to pull the plug. Either Israel accepts and signs a two state solution or allows the establishment of a permanent UN peace-keeping force along it’s borders, or we stop giving it aid we can’t afford to begin with.
Addressing the first blogger of the day:
Boring Arnold can be added to the sins of covering war. While I respect his right to be bored by it all, there are lots of blogs on every topic out there and generally a great deal of variety here.
I really appreciate it when BBC WHS puts the monster of fresh carnage in my face and asks me some questions that may seem alike in some way but get to the heart of different aspects of important issues.
Syria, Egypt, etc.:
Playing politics with vulnerable neighbors and exiled leaders and refugee populations is an ancient game. All of the countries in the middle east are affected culturally by the Palestinian diaspora of sixty years ago. Perceived alternately as heros and pawns by the powers around them, regardless of their bent, Palestinians have made significant intellectual marks on Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, etc. Each of these countries have supported Palestinian exile population that suit and booted those who don’t. Desperation in Gaza doesn’t seem to speed up the glacially slow nightmare of dealmaking.
UN: Can we focus on preventing the punishment of whole populations for the deeds of some? The signers are all supposed to honor this prohibition. Instead we are back to another round of kids as ‘collateral damage,’ Good luck to the honest diplomats on the ground working overtime. Perhaps one could spare us some moments to enlighten the dialogue.
The UN’s call for a ceasefire has been ignored so far, so why will Hamas and Israel listen now ?
Because, Hamas and Israel will not going to listen…Until, The objectives are met……
~Dennis Junior~
I think the world should follow in the footsteps of Venezuella & Paraguay(or Uruguay, I forget which) and
banish the Israeli ambassadors from their countries as they have been bombing the UN for the second time today. Countries which have no regard for the UN & EU should be punished by the entire world.
B Roy
“UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed outrage and said Israel described it as a grave mistake, although Israel denied this.” I assume a hastily edited article!
But it does beg the question, what is the point of the UN Security Council? In this Israel vs Palestine conflict alone numerous resolutions have been violated for decades and not a single reaction from the UN. How many times have UN civilian shelters, schools, positions etc been shelled? No reaction. Civilians being targetted. No reaction. Ceasefires violated. No reaction.
One (outgoing) world leader already called you irrelevant. Stop trying to prove him right.
So John in Salem, along with many others, says the UN created this (Israel) situation. Wrong. It was Hitler. How many millions of Jews did he murder?
What would have been your solution?
That would be a good question to debate.
the true aim of the israeli’s is to wipe the palestinians off the face of the earth, and when they have finished them they will start casting their envious eyes elsewhere. look at lebanon, they had just had got back on their feet attracting foreigner investment and holidaymakers, thus denying the israelis, and so they had to be stopped. israel want to control the whole middle east and do so with the connivance of succesive US governments. if the US really want to put an end to it they can tomorrow, firstly by cutting all aid to israel, (amounting to 500 dollars for each israeli) which is merely used to keep the US weapons industry afloat, and secondly do what was done in iraq, regardless of UN backing or not, send in the heavy guns and give the israelis a taste of their own medicine
Ban Ki-moon is coming to town. Unlike Santa Claus don’t expect presents.
nobody seems to talk about the truth that the arabs and muslims rejected the very first UN Resolution in this matter- that which established the state of israel. is they had accepted it, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
the solutin is for the arabs and muslim world to recognise israel; which will remove the israeli option of bombing the palestinians since Hamas and the likes have refused to honour the very first UN resolution