The Obama administration simply cannot follow the "Bush doctrine" of death and destruction in the ME. I quote:
"Reliable sources at the UN say that the U.S. ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, has received explicit instructions from his superiors at the State Department to torpedo any initiative proposed by the Arab bloc which is designed to grant the Security Council the status of an official arbiter that will have direct involvement with disentangling the Gaza crisis.
This directive can explain Washington's persistent opposition to even a non-binding declarative statement issued by the Council, as it did during an emergency meeting late Saturday night."
More below...
It continues:
"Ban expressed concern over the humanitarian conditions in the strip and demanded that Israel open the border crossings, including the Nahal Oz and Karni terminals, so that shipments of food, fuel, and other necessities could resume.
Ban said on Sunday he had recalled his special Mideast peace envoy to New York for briefings and convened a meeting of senior advisers on the Gaza crisis.
In a statement from his press office, Ban also said he believed the UN Security Council had "a central role to play in bringing a speedy end to the conflict," and that he planned further talks with Council members and Arab leaders to try to end the fighting."
Link:
http://www.haaretz.com/...
Some comments.
Yesterday a diary on the Front Page argued that Israel did not need the US in this crisis. Curiously enough, that statement was misunderstood by many. Israel certainly needs American weapons and money. Israel certainly does not need "unconditional support." The Israeli leadership needs to be told to stop self-destructing, to stop believing that their action will stop those who hate them the most, because new generations of haters are born after each bomb is dropped, after each artillery and tank shell is fired in Gaza.
Israel needs a honest friend, someone who can say:
"OK, you have made your point. Now is time to reflect on the consequences of your actions."
Israel needs to stop following the Bush's agenda for the ME. Nevertheless, I know I am wasting my words. It is likely that Netanyahu will the next Israeli PM. God helps the Palestinians and Israelis...