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Last update - 08:40 13/11/2006 International force for Gaza By Haaretz Editorial The situation in the Gaza Strip cries out for the world's help. After hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and hundreds of Qassam rockets have landed in Israel, and lacking any exchange between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, the two sides once again cannot extricate themselves from the miserable situation into which they have deteriorated. In light of the situation, the world is called on to intervene directly, as is the norm in other areas of conflict. There is no need here to detail the danger to peace in the region and indirectly to world peace, as a result of the deterioration in the Gaza Strip. Israel's actions harm innocent civilians, and images of the killing broadcast round the world intensify hatred of Israel: At the same time, Israel cannot reconcile itself with constant rocket fire on its towns. An international force deployed in Gaza, primarily in the areas that border Israel and Egypt, could calm the situation. Both Israel and the Palestinians should be interested in this. Israel has been deterred in the past from "internationalizing the conflict." It traditionally opposed any international intervention on the assumption that deploying foreign soldiers would limit the Israel Defense Forces and make it difficult for the military to protect Israel. Advertisement However, the recent war in Lebanon changed the approach. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was the first to suggest an increased involvement of a UNIFIL force. The prime minister had reservations, but after two weeks he also began to support the solution that is now in force in Lebanon. This is not a perfect solution. But after having tried everything, and after it became clear that the use of force alone does not solve the problem, there is no other option. True, an international force did not calm every conflict situation, but there are also positive examples: In Kosovo, for instance, an international force managed to end the acts of terror between the quarreling sides. Israel left the Gaza Strip, so the presence of an international force would not threaten either Israel's sovereignty or security. The Palestinians have said they are interested in such a force, which could act as their shield against Israeli attacks. An international force could bring about the end of the Qassam fire, and that is supposed to bring about the end of Israeli military operations. Along with the establishment of a Palestinian unity government, which Hamas will not lead, and which will include mostly experts, this combination of measures could bring new hope. And maybe it would even constitute the basis for the renewal of talks between the sides. Israel must initiate the move and thus appear interested in calming the situation. The world, for its part, should volunteer for the mission. The prime minister, who has left for political talks in Washington, could bring this idea with him, which has never been tried between Israel and the Palestinians and, in doing so, advance a new reality. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Power to the people Egypt plans to provide all of Gaza's electricity, to wean dependency on Israel. Calculated escalation Hamas has been trying for some time to create a balance of deterrence with Israel.   1.   israel won`t agree! 08:52  |  john 13/11/06   2.   International Force, Yes for Gaza & West Bank 09:01  |  Abu Samra 13/11/06   3.   AND EXACTLY WHAT WOULD IT ACHEIVE??? 09:11  |  paul harris 13/11/06   4.   Good Idea which will not work 09:12  |  Natallie Durson 13/11/06   5.   An international force to watch its war crimes? 09:13  |  Clickfool 13/11/06   6.   United States will veto any such call 09:23  |  Harris 13/11/06   7.   International force... 09:23  |  Paul M Ploeger 13/11/06   8.   Yasser Arafat asked for one 6 years ago but 09:25  |  Tony Price 13/11/06   9.   law vs. Law 09:27  |  Paul Zweite 13/11/06   10.   Israel won`t allow it, but it might be the best action right now 09:49  |  Sara 13/11/06   11.   International force in Gaza AND West Bank NOW. 09:57  |  Michael 13/11/06   12.   ISRAEL REJECTED IT BEFORE 10:09  |  indrajaya 13/11/06   13.   Israel will have won at least two football - worldcups...... 10:18  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/11/06   14.   International Force Gaza 10:22  |  Dan 13/11/06   15.   IF the UN is going to act as human shields for Arabs,they should 10:52  |  PETER SM 13/11/06   16.   International force? NATO! 10:54  |  Paul Henzen 13/11/06   17.   Int`l force 10:54  |  Stephen Connor 13/11/06   18.   it`s not gonna happen 11:10  |  rose 13/11/06   19.   A street name for Rachel Corrie in Rafah 11:26  |  Tamir Gaza 13/11/06   20.   Force 11:33  |  Choni 13/11/06   21.   Pressure Arabs-Pals To Stop Terror And Ppl Will Die of Laughter 11:33  |  Joseph E . 13/11/06   22.   Israel will not agree 11:34  |  NEUTERED OBSERVER 13/11/06   23.   After France`s experience in Lebanon? 11:56  |  spyguy 13/11/06   24.   Haaretz wants to reduce Israel into a giant concentration camp 11:58  |  Jonathan S 13/11/06   25.   An international force could bring about the end of the Qassam... 11:59  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 13/11/06   26.   WHY ISRAEL REJECTS INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN GAZA? 12:03  |  Messaoud 13/11/06   27.   pressure arab-pals.... 12:34  |  Fiona 13/11/06   28.   Messoud how many civilians have muslims killed in the 12:52  |  british academic 13/11/06   29.   Messoud send in an international force 12:54  |  British academic 13/11/06   30.   Tzipi asking and Olmert hesitate? 13:16  |  jean marie 13/11/06   31.   # 24 Jonathan, we already have a giant "Ghetto" in Gaza.... 13:21  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/11/06   32.   International force in Gaza and W Bank or permanent war 13:23  |  Michael 13/11/06   33.   As long as 13:32  |  Axel 13/11/06   34.   What International "help"? 14:20  |  Wendy 13/11/06   35.   # 27 Fiona @ Ottawa / Canada 14:26  |  Joseph E . 13/11/06   36.   Jonathan S, who doesn`t like concventration camps `# 24 14:46  |  Clickfool 13/11/06   37.   Stop with the whining about Qassams already 14:52  |  Marilyn 13/11/06   38.   What forces?With who? 14:57  |  jean marie 13/11/06   39.   U Thant 15:01  |  Johnny Weintraub 13/11/06   40.   great leadership from Haaretz 15:02  |  Leon Rosgarten 13/11/06   41.   To chaver ClickFOOL, always reacting like he should 15:05  |  Jonathan S 13/11/06   42.   Marilyn, Clickfool & the rest 15:11  |  Dave Kennaird 13/11/06   43.   great leadership from Haaretz 15:11  |  Leon Rosgarten 13/11/06   44.   Delusion 15:13  |  Ben Israel 13/11/06   45.   I agree with the international force 15:23  |  Stephen Murray 13/11/06   46.   Why didn`t Israel get the deploration by UNO (US veto) 15:36  |  Andy 13/11/06   47.   When all armies surround Israel know ...... 15:37  |  Melinda Lehan 13/11/06   48.   Let`s see 15:55  |  Gee 13/11/06   49.   # Jonathan S, could it be that you are a member of..... 16:01  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/11/06   50.   Re:Fiona:pressure arab-pals 16:27  |  Guy From NYC 13/11/06   51.   International forces in Gaza 16:47  |  KUTW 13/11/06   52.   An advice to Swiss 16:51  |  Jonathan S 13/11/06   53.   Int?l forces, a shield for qassams launchers? 16:53  |  KUTW 13/11/06   54.   1) tried before, didn`t work; 2) force of lots of Jew-haters? 16:57  |  Yaakov K. 13/11/06   55.   1. john: What do you want it for? 17:06  |  KUTW 13/11/06   56.   Here`s the problem with your idea, Natalie 17:09  |  Jacob Blues 13/11/06   57.   2 Abu Samra International Force 17:12  |  KUTW 13/11/06   58.   4 Natallie Durson: it will not work 17:14  |  KUTW 13/11/06   59.   Silencing Witnesses, Messaoued? 17:15  |  Jacob Blues 13/11/06   60.   Face Facts 17:22  |  Bimmer 13/11/06   61.   14. Dan: International Force Gaza 17:31  |  KUTW 13/11/06   62.   16. Paul Henzen: International force? NATO! 17:34  |  KUTW 13/11/06   63.   Absolutely YES! 17:37  |  Alicia 13/11/06   64.   34. Marilyn: Stop with the whining 17:39  |  KUTW 13/11/06   65.   26 Messaoud: INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN GAZA? 17:50  |  KUTW 13/11/06   66.   Face Facts- second attempt 18:03  |  Bimmer 13/11/06   67.   Needed: A declaration of peace. 18:30  |  Polybios 13/11/06   68.   19Tamir Gaza: street name for Rachel Corrie in Rafah 18:39  |  Kelmeyt 13/11/06   69.   Don`t say that Kelmeyt 19:09  |  Tamir Gaza 13/11/06   70.   Gaza and West Bank same country 19:10  |  Pablo B 13/11/06   71.   # 52 An advice to Jonathan S 19:29  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/11/06   72.   #50. Ignorant guy from NYC 19:30  |  Polybios 13/11/06   73.