War diary (41). Deadlock. Article by Riccardo Cristiano – Instituto Humanitas Unisinos

“In the next few hours, an Israeli delegation is expected in Washington to discuss endlessly about Rafah. Blinken continues to assert that it is fair for Israel defeat the Hamas, but that there are other ways, besides land military action, to do so. Netanyahu has already responded that, if necessary, he will go it alone”, writes Riccardo Cristiano, Italian journalist, in an article published by Settimana News, 23-03-2024.

Here’s the article.

The barometer pointer, on the UNdid not indicate “good weather”: when would that be, today?

A France had announced the preparation of its own proposed resolution to be submitted to the security advicebefore the one presented by the States United. It was probably the first sign of a “smoke” that would later become “black”.

A report details negotiations between members of the Advice on the American proposal, from which the decisive section is extracted, as presented after several changes. Here is my translation from English:

“After additional negotiations, the States United reformulated this paragraph to state that the Advice establishes the imperative of an immediate and lasting ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides and enable the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance, adding that, to this end, the Council unequivocally supports ongoing international diplomatic efforts to ensure such a ceasefire. fire in connection with the release of all remaining (Israeli) hostages”.

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The reservations derived from the language chosen: it was not clear, according to critics. The vote had 11 countries in favor, Russia It is China opposing it with a veto, the Algeria voted against and Guyana abstained.

According to the Russian delegate, the resolution would have given the “green light” to the Israeli military operation on land, including against Rafah, the last piece of Gaza before the Egyptwhere more than a million displaced Palestinians are currently located.

While the vote was taking place, the US Secretary of State, Blinkenwas in a conversation that he described as “frank” with the Israeli prime minister, precisely about the military operation in Rafah: The disagreement on this was, in fact, “transparent” and confirmed by the parties involved.

In the next few hours, an Israeli delegation is expected in Washington to discuss endlessly about Rafah. Blinken continues to assert that it is fair for Israel defeat the Hamas, but that there are other ways, besides land military action, to do so. Netanyahu has already responded that, if necessary, he will go it alone.

Therefore, in UNthe French proposal, announced by the Macronwho spoke about a “significant change in the position of washington” after previous vetoes. Macron hopes that diplomacy – the one he promoted – will find the right words to unblock the impasse.

It is important to note, however, that while initially there was talk of a Franco-Algerian proposal – a country that is part of the Council and is generally associated with the “hard” ones – Macron mentioned current coordination with the United Arab Emirates and the Jordan in creating a text that can convince Moscow It is Beijing. The vote is scheduled for next Monday, but the impression of commentators is that washington will not join.

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At the same time, negotiations continue on the Qatar: it appears for the release of all Israeli hostages and for a six-week ceasefire. The fact that negotiations continue is obviously a good sign. But it’s been a long time – too much time – and the light at the end of the tunnel still isn’t visible.

I cannot fail to mention the gloomy prediction of one of the most respected scholars of East Average we know – Gilles Kepel – who, in a conversation with the Corriere della Serastated that he was certain that the fire would spread to the Lebanonthat is, when Hezbollah.

However, I see that the newspapers Beirut report a Lebanese population convinced that this will not happen. But, perhaps, just because of the power of conviction that “the worst of the worst” should never happen: this doesn’t surprise me, when I think about the situation of economic and social catastrophe – witnessed by friends – in which the country has found itself for years.

What really surprises me is the level of Lebanese political debate, which is almost entirely self-referential. Time is wasted discussing internal affairs and palace matters: a subject suitable for other diary pages, not just the Middle East.

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