Give China a chance at Middle East peace

[Edison Chen]

Israel and the Palestinian militants of Hamas have nothing to gain from the latest flare-up of violence. The more rockets that are fired at Israeli towns and cities from Gaza, the more punishing will be the response. Quickly agreeing to a ceasefire is the only viable option, no matter who brokers it. But as history has repeatedly shown, a truce alone is no long-term solution; the best hope of peace for Israelis and Palestinians will come about through an impartial mediator.

Egypt's attempt to bring about a ceasefire predictably failed, Hamas rejecting any such effort from a government that has no tolerance for its Islamist ways. Israel's international reputation is suffering as a result of its air strikes, in which civilians, especially children, are bearing the brunt; the deaths of four boys who had been playing ball on a beach has been particularly damaging. The Israeli "iron dome" missile shield is also blocking most of the extremists' rockets, increasing resolve. Events are boosting radicalism on both sides, just as in the conflicts of 2008-09 and 2012. The eventual ceasefires then produced only an uneasy calm. China's calling for an end to the fighting and sending its special envoy on Middle East affairs, Wu Sike, to the region to help with mediation is a positive sign.

There is no more impartial or well-placed a country for that role than China. The US has tried time and again and failed, its pro-Israeli stance ensuring Palestinian reticence and Muslim suspicion. Beijing has no such baggage, its neutral position with Israelis and Arabs and good economic relations throughout the Middle East raising the chances of success. Chinese have never waged war or had territorial claims in the region, nor a record of anti-semitism that could affect ties with Israel.

Wu is visiting Palestine, Israel and other regional countries to help find a way forward. His trip continues a process that began a year ago when Beijing held separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to discuss the peace process. President Xi Jinping unveiled a plan that although not radically new, proved a willingness to get involved. There is every reason why China should: As an important world power, it should participate in international diplomacy and doing so now is a chance to improve an image tarnished by territorial disputes in the South and East China seas.

Given the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, hopes should never be overly high of a breakthrough. But with the US, UN, European Union and Norway, among others, having tried and failed, there is every reason for China to step up.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

There is no more impartial or well-placed a country for that role than China. The US has tried time and again and failed, its pro-Israeli stance ensuring Palestinian reticence and Muslim suspicion. Beijing has no such baggage, its neutral position with Israelis and Arabs and good economic relations throughout the Middle East raising the chances of success. Chinese have never waged war or had territorial claims in the region, nor a record of anti-semitism that could affect ties with Israel.

This is all true, however the only ones who can solve this problem are the Israelis and the Palestinians themselves.

Even if we manage to somehow broker a long-term ceasefire, the underlying issues will not be solved and it will eventually flare up again.

 

[Victory]

Israel wont stop before Greater Israel

 

[Edison Chen]

This is all true, however the only ones who can solve this problem are the Israelis and the Palestinians themselves.

Even if we manage to somehow broker a long-term ceasefire, the underlying issues will not be solved and it will eventually flare up again.

At least, we should protect our interest in ME not be ruined.

 

[T-123456]

Why not give it a try,maybe both sides would listen to China?

 

[Edison Chen]

The Palestinian ambassador to China said Beijing is playing an increasingly important role in the Middle East peace process - as a special Chinese envoy headed to Israel and the Palestinian territories to broker a truce.

Ahmad Ramadan said a stronger involvement by Beijing in seeking a resolution to the Palestine-Israel conflict was in line with China's broader interests, as it expanded its political and economic influence in the region.

"China is a big player ... it has a big interest in the region, not only economically but also politically," Ramadan said. "I think China will try to position itself as an important player in this coming period."

A spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Beijing commented on China’s role in the conflict.

“We think the relations China has both with Israel and Arab countries can be very valuable and be an important factor,” the spokesman said. “China fully supported the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire, and the Israeli side approved. But this ceasefire was unfortunately rejected by the Hamas. We really hope that with the efforts of China and the international community, we can get a ceasefire and a complete stop to acts of terrorism.”

The spokesman added that Hamas is “solely responsible for the escalation”.

“The ground operation that the Israelis started was in response to Hamas’ increasing gunfire during the ceasefire,” the spokesman said.

Ramadan's comments came as Israel agreed to halt military operations for five hours yesterday to allow the United Nations to facilitate the transfer of aid to Palestinians living in Gaza. The death toll on the Palestinian side by Wednesday, after nine days of fighting, exceeded 200.

China's special envoy on Middle East affairs, Wu Sike, is meeting leaders on both sides, as well as visiting other countries in the region in a bid to ease tensions.

Speaking ahead of the trip, Wu said China always opposed violence against civilians and called on both sides to settle the disputes through talks. On Tuesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Zhang Ming held talks with Ramadan and Dana Benvenisti, deputy chief of mission from the Israeli embassy, and representatives of Arabic states.

Ramadan said Zhang asked him to convey that the Palestinians should stop launching rockets against Israel, but also said Israel should stop its aggression.

Chinese officials said Beijing would seek a wider ceasefire brokered at international level.

"This is the opinion of China, that the only way to solve this conflict is through peaceful means and direct negotiation between Israel and Palestine," Ramadan said.

Last May Beijing hosted coinciding visits by Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. China proposed a meeting between the two, to which Abbas agreed, but the talks never took place. "China has the intention to play an effective role in the region," Ramadan said. "But there are obstacles."

In his talks with Abbas, President Xi Jinping said China supported the peaceful co-existence of the Palestinian territories and Israel, and an independent Palestinian state enjoying full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders.

Observers said China had become more open in its diplomacy in the region as it did not want the conflict to affect other countries in the Middle East.

 

[Globenim]

China stepping in to create peace and order is contradictive to U.S.A. real politics.
If an impartial third party puts both sides on equal grounds it would only be a loss of Israel and a gain for Palestine who are treated very unequaly by the U.S.A. behind their facade of "peace and freedom".

U.S.A. would never allow someone to regulate the conflict into a fair and respectful situation for either side at loss of their influence in the region.