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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Ban Ki Moon crosses into Gaza in peace tour
2010-03-22
[Al Arabiya Latest] U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon crossed into the Gaza Strip on Sunday for an hours-long visit as part of a regional tour aimed at reviving the Middle East peace process, an AFP reporter said.

Ban crossed through Erez crossing that links Israel and the Palestinian enclave. He was met by a small group of people waving Palestinian flags.

Ban was to make his second visit to the Gaza Strip since the 22-day war ended in January 2009 as part of a regional tour aimed at reviving the peace process, which ground to a halt when the fighting broke out.

"I'll go to Gaza... to express my solidarity with the plight of the Palestinian people there and to underscore the need to end the blockade," Ban told reporters in the occupied West Bank on Saturday.

Israel tightened its blockade on Gaza after the Islamist Hamas movement violently seized power there in June 2007, and has said the border closures are necessary to contain the group, which is pledged to its destruction.

But Ban insisted ahead of a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres on Saturday that the closures imposed "unacceptable hardships" on civilians.

"I understand and share Israel's concerns about the challenges posed by Hamas, but Israel's blockade continues to impose unacceptable hardships while empowering extremists," he said.

"I am confident the blockade can be lifted while addressing Israel's legitimate security concerns."
Posted by:Fred

#6  Yet more proof there is not a shortage of quality food in Gaza.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2010-03-22 11:14  

#5  I'm sure he visited Sedrot and the other Israeli settlements which have been under rocket attack for 8-9 years.

No?

Then why did they let the accessory to terrorism out again?
Posted by: CrazyFool   2010-03-22 09:07  

#4  I am confident in that peace will be possible the day Palestinians have a good reason for making peace like having to choose between missiles and food because we will be no longer footing the bill, like having to pay a million dollars (Reagan dollars) for every missile or attempt of infiltration, like refunding us every cent of international aid used on terrorism or in indoctrinating their children for genocide. Sixty years is enough!!!!
Posted by: JFM   2010-03-22 06:24  

#3  "...I understand and share Israel's concerns about the challenges posed by Hamas..."

no he doesn't

when he admits that Hamas has an explicitly genocidal policy and works 24/7 to implement, then he maybe will understand
Posted by: lord garth   2010-03-22 05:10  

#2  Where are the Dogmushes!?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2010-03-22 03:30  

#1  "I am confident the blockade can be lifted while addressing Israel's legitimate security concerns."

Your plan? And the consequences should it fail?
Posted by: gorb   2010-03-22 01:08  

00:00