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Last update - 00:00 06/06/2007
Solana: Int'l peacekeeping force in Gaza is a possibility
By The Associated Press

The European Union's foreign policy chief said Wednesday that an international peacekeeping force could possibly be deployed in the Gaza strip, though it would probably be difficult for Egypt to accept.

Javier Solana told the European Parliament in Brussels that "for the first time in many, many years, the idea of an international force" was not out of the question.

Solana said two groups in the Israeli parliament had said it may be the moment to call for such a force, at least to start with, in the south of the region where the Rafah border crossing to Egypt is located.
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"We are working on that," he said. "The Israelis are also considering that possibility, the Palestinians are considering that possibility, the Egyptians are considering that possibility."

Solana said it would probably be difficult for Egypt as deployment of such a force might give the impression it was not able to control that part of the border. However, he added "I think we can still get into discussions on these issues and maybe eventually get a solution."

The EU's External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told the same hearing an international mechanism set up last year to provide aid to Palestinians while bypassing the government would be extended for an additional three months until the end of September.

She said humanitarian conditions remained "dire" and appealed to EU member states to provide additional funds.

The United Nations special envoy to the Middle East called last month on Israel, the Palestinians and the United Nations to consider an international force for Gaza.

Israel has long resisted Palestinian calls for peacekeepers in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, saying their deployment would interfere with Israeli security measures.

But it has signalled flexibility since last year's Lebanon war, which ended with a boosted United Nations peacekeeper force in former Hezbollah guerrilla strongholds.

Israel pulled its troops and settlers out of Gaza in 2005, but cross-border violence has continued and last month it launched an air campaign to try to stop militants from firing rockets at southern Israeli towns.
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  1.   UN FORCE FOR THE GREEN LINE TOO? 22:55  |  David 06/06/07
  2.   Be Careful...Old habits are hard to break 23:10  |  Natallie Durson 06/06/07
  3.   Moronic idea from a moron 23:14  |  Gee 06/06/07
  4.   UN Peacekeepers will become a possibility when... 23:17  |  Dr. L. Brnd 06/06/07
  5.   no 23:31  |  Alone ben Caro 06/06/07
  6.   This is a good idea as the two parties do not trust each other 23:38  |  Eurocentric 06/06/07
  7.   Natallie Durson - You are so right. 23:40  |  Don Juan 06/06/07
  8.   Shut up David the Idiot! 23:55  |  Sunny 06/06/07
  9.   Peacekeepers couldn`t stop HEZBALLAH!!! - Will they stop HAMAS??? 00:43  |  Vittoio 07/06/07
  10.   Int`t force needed in all of occupied Palestine, not just Gaza. 00:49  |  Fred Farkelsteinman 07/06/07
  11.   A Great Idea that should be done regarless of Israeli Opposition 00:58  |  Mr. Knowitall 07/06/07
  12.   Yes,UN-peacekeepers will give Hamas an anti-IAF umbrella 01:01  |  Absolute Sweden 07/06/07
  13.   UN Peacekeepers 01:11  |  Nemesis 07/06/07
  14.   And if they fire rockets then what 01:54  |  Sam Weinstein 07/06/07
  15.   Int`l warkeeping force in Gaza is no substitute to IDF 02:04  |  Joseph E . 07/06/07
  16.   What a Lousy Idea 02:08  |  Jeff Northridge 07/06/07
  17.   International Peacekeepers are needed in ALL... 02:20  |  Maureen Ann 07/06/07
  18.   for my vote bad idea, impotent peace keepers why are we giving up 02:31  |  ralph 07/06/07
  19.   Before you jump... 02:55  |  JJ 07/06/07
  20.   This will only complicate the situation 03:04  |  B 07/06/07
  21.   #17.....Maureen Ann 03:04  |  Nemesis 07/06/07
  22.   MAUREEN N International "peacekeepers" turned a blind eye 03:47  |  PETER SM 07/06/07
  23.   Ahem. Why does anyone have to ask the Israelis? 10:22  |  Johnboy 07/06/07
  24.   UN peacekeepers 17:05  |  Observer 07/06/07
  25.   The UN is biased against Israel 23:47  |  Rebecca 13/01/09
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21:34 Palestinian reporters charged with leaking censored info on Gaza to Iran TV
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