Gaza ceasefire announced
Posted on Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 4:21pm
13 responses
Media reports today show that Israel has announced a unilateral ceasefire, suspending their 22 day ‘Operation Cast Lead.’ The Telegraph reports that Israel will not enter talks with Hamas, and that ‘if Hamas does not attack Israel and does not provoke Israel, we will honour the ceasefire.’ An Israeli security chief has stated however that the military operation “is not over,” and that the next few days will be critical in determining whether they will resume operations. A summit of European leaders and Arab leaders is set to take place today in Egypt in a bid to add momentum to the peace talks. Hamas has also announced a one week ceasefire in response to Israel, calling on Israeli forces to remove troops from Gaza. Barak Obama has stated that he will enter negotiations after his inauguration on Tuesday. Will this suspension of hostilities provide enough of an opportunity for negotiations to take effect?
In other news, Matt Withers wades in to the Nick Bourne expenses saga by suggesting that Tory HQ ( aka Cameron and co) have stepped in to stop Nick Bourne from being ousted as leader in Wales for fear that this may ruin the party’s credibility in an election year. This could well be the case, but why should we be surprised at that news? I assumed that’s how Unionist parties worked. Problems with Tories in Wales= Cameron being involved as their overall leader. The Tories in Wales may well have announced their support for Nick Bourne in a statement to the press, but I’m sure tensions are still simmering under the surface. How long this unity will last is the question. If it means anything at all, I do believe that Nick Bourne has been attacked disproportionately in the press over allowances, although now that a Labour candidate has reported him to the police, the story has added momentum and will no doubt run and run. Lets just hope the review of AMs allowances amends the system for the better, so that there is little opportunity to fuel the media’s obsession with allowances.
Another story of interest today notes that an officer serving with Prince Harry has suggested that a colleague stole Harry’s infamous videos from his laptop and allegedly sold them to the press. Of course, such action would be unacceptable, but I’m more interested in discovering whether Harry will be held responsible for his actions, rather than whether or not he is upset that a colleague has undermined his confidence in such a way. Its embarrassing that someone who represents Wales, who holds the name or our country in his title acts in such a way, whether he said what he did two, three or ten years ago. It shows that the Armed Forces are still faltering with regards to implementing equality of opportunity measures within their structures, and I support the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s call for an inquiry in to anti-discrimination measures within the Armed Forces.
If people are led to believe by those in positions of responsibility that words like ‘paki’ are acceptable to use in our everyday lives, then what hope do we have of creating a tolerant and equal society? On Question Time last Thursday the panelists rightly criticised Harry’s comments on the video in question, but then progressed by feeling sorry for him, stating that he is under pressure as a young Prince and so on. I have no sympathy on this level. If Harry wants to use his position in a positive way, then do so. If he doesn’t want the airs and graces, or the trials and tribulations of being a member of the Royal family then surely he knows that that too is an option.
And finally- a story that made me chuckle in today’s Observer was a study by sociologists at the University of Essex who have carried out a study stating that if you want to avoid relationship heartbreak in later life, then one must avoid the passion of ’puppy love’ as this leads to unrealistic expectations for future relationships.
He exclaimed,’ remarkably, it seems that the secret to long-term happiness in a relationship is to skip a first relationship. In an ideal world, you would wake up already in your second relationship.”
Hmm, very enlightening- now tell me how that works?! I’m glad the government are giving money to Universities for vital research like this;-)………….
