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| Solana arrives in Middle East to broker truce |  |  |  |
| Israel |
| Written by Chris Perver |
| Wednesday, 07 January 2009 04:45 |
| Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, arrived in Cairo yesterday in order to facilitate the brokering of a truce between Hamas and Israel. He will be joined by several other EU leaders, including Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The Czech Republic assumed the EU presidency from France on the 1st of January. The Czech government has made favourable statements concerning the latest Gaza operation launched on December 27th, stating that Israel has a right to defend itself against the Hamas acts of terror. France, which has the largest population of Muslim immigrants in Europe, has taken a more 'balanced' approach. Although Nicolas Sarkozy is himself of Jewish descent and has shown more favour towards the Jewish state than his predecessor, he is making it his business to call for an immediate end to hostilities. The French President, who launched the Union for the Mediterranean and sought to create a stronger Europe, has been reluctant to relinquish power. Indeed he apparently tried to make a deal with the Czech government allowing him to remain president of the Union for the Mediterranean during the Czech presidency. But the offer was rebuffed. His continuing meddling in the Middle East will likely cast a shadow over Solana's own efforts to negotiate a truce. Quote: "Schwarzenberg, whose country currently holds the European Union presidency, told reporters in Prague that Solana was "on his way to Cairo and Tel Aviv to continue the work that we have started and I hope with a successful result." Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Monday rejected calls by visiting EU diplomats for an immediate truce, saying Israel was aiming to change the "equation in this region." And earlier Tuesday, Israeli President Shimon Peres belittled European efforts to seek a halt to the Gaza conflict insisting that Israel was not worried about its international image, his office said. US President Bush has been supportive of Israel's war with Hamas, and has stated that Israel has a right to defend itself against its enemies. But one wonders about the timing of this conflict. The ceasefire with Hamas did expire on December 18th. Hamas said that they were surprised at the speed and ferocity of Israel's response on this occasion. Obama, who has previously been outspoken on the Middle East peace process and intends to press for the division of Jerusalem between Jew and Arab, has been largely silent on this issue. Quote: "According to a report published Tuesday in the Lebanese newspaper al-Ahbar, Obama told Abbas that he supports a PA state, and Arab "rights to east Jerusalem" as well. The sources said Abbas and PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad "heard the best things they ever heard from an American president" during the meeting. However, said sources quoted in the report, the candidate asked them to keep his declaration a secret. Could it be that Israel believes an Obama administration would not permit them to undertake such an operation, and that is why they are so keen to finish off Hamas now? There is no doubt, when President Obama takes office, things will change for the worse in the Middle East. It's hard to imagine the state of Israel being without a powerful ally like the United States. Of course that's exactly what the Bible predicts will happen. For the Scriptures state that the whole world will one day be gathered together against Jerusalem to do battle. Zechariah 12:2-3 Praise God that just one person with Him is in the majority. Any state that turns its back on God's chosen people will have the Mighty God of Jacob to contend with. Do you know the Mighty God of Jacob? Can you say that He is your friend? He is the friend of all those who put their trust in Him. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31). John 15:13 Source EU Business, FT, Israel Jewish News |
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