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Post by Admin on Oct 8, 2023 7:39:46 GMT
In a press statement released on the 8th, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed ''deep concern over the escalation of tension and violence'' regarding the military conflict between Hamas, the Islamic fundamentalist organization that effectively controls the Palestinian autonomous region of Gaza, and Israel, and announced an immediate cease-fire. I asked for China emphasizes that it will "continue to make constant efforts together with the international community."
The statement appealed to all those involved to "remain calm and restraint, cease fire immediately, protect civilians, and prevent further deterioration of the situation." As a fundamental solution, he argued that a plan for ''two-state coexistence'' with Israel through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is necessary.
The Xi Jinping administration has expanded its involvement in the Middle East, where the influence of the United States has been declining, and has expressed a desire to play a mediating role regarding the Palestinian issue. In June, he met with Palestinian Authority Chairman Abbas in Beijing and proposed holding an international peace conference to support peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel.
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Post by Admin on Oct 8, 2023 18:57:39 GMT
Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel on Sunday and launched retaliation strikes that leveled buildings in Gaza.
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Post by Admin on Oct 8, 2023 19:52:14 GMT
History again echoes, as the predicate for Hamas’ attack had less to do with anything that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have done—now is not the moment to blame the victim. Rather, the trigger to the attack was likely that the prospect of a wider Mideast peace was almost at hand through an impending deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Hamas’ sabotage parallels the disruption of the prospective Israeli-Palestinian peace plan in 2000 on the heels of a Camp David Summit when the devastation of the Second Intifada ruined any dreams of normalization and resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians.
This time, by all accounts, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States were inching closer towards a transformative three-way deal, which would have seen Israel and Saudi formally recognize each other within a security, defense, and economic partnership with the U.S. Just a week ago, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman said that “every day we get closer” to a deal, while Netanyahu similarly stated that he was confident of forging “a historic peace” between his country and Saudi Arabia, with Israeli cabinet ministers already landing in Riyadh to “nurture blossoming ties.”
Saturday’s invasion of Israel by Hamas seems to derail that in the near term, just as Hamas intended. But by sabotaging imminent peace, Hamas sadly derails the transformation of the region which had started with the Abraham Accords shepherded by Jared Kushner, which the first author helped advise and participated in, and the worst loser in all this is the Palestinian people, who will lose out on the promise of economic and security revitalization that just days ago seemed so possible.
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Post by Admin on Oct 8, 2023 19:55:26 GMT
What is the role of Iran and how will the country respond moving forward?
Iran’s biggest rival in the region is Saudi Arabia with military, diplomatic, cultural, and religious hostilities dividing them. The prospect of Saudi recognition of Israeli sovereignty after 75 years of statehood would have undercut Iran’s voice in the Islamic world while uniting two of Iran’s foes. Iran has always been Hamas’ single largest sponsor, providing 70% of the financing for Hamas including upwards of $100 million in military aid every year in addition to military training and humanitarian assistance. It is highly unlikely that Hamas’ invasion of Israel could have happened without at least tacit support from Iran, whose regime was celebrating the attacks on Israel openly on Saturday with impromptu fireworks and festivals.
As Iranian-American author-journalist Roya Hakakian noted to us, “Iran needed this conflict very badly, as the hardline regime has been facing its fair share of domestic challenges, especially since the killing of Mahsa Amini last year. It has lost legitimacy in the eyes of many of its own people amidst domestic discontent, economic woes, and international isolation, and its survival depends to a large degree on symbiotic relationships with other extremists who will do Iran’s bidding.”
As Israel focuses on neutralizing Hamas’ ability to carry out terrorist attacks, there will be elevated scrutiny on Iran from the international community in the days ahead; and Iran will likely come under increasing pressure, especially through the potential withholding of the sanctions relief that Iran so desperately needs.
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Post by Admin on Oct 9, 2023 1:51:12 GMT
Today on CNN 10, we head to the Middle East and look to explain a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. We’ll explain the historical significance of Gaza, Israel, and the tensions that have existed over territory for decades. We’ll also give you key reactions to this attack from nations in the Middle East, as well as from the White House and beyond. For the latest information on this developing situation, head to CNN.com.
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