Intensified conflict in the Gaza Strip gets on the nerves of big nations. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has skipped her scheduled trips to China and a few other Asian countries; Alexander Sultanov, Russian President's Special Envoy for Middle Eastern Affairs and vice-foreign minister, paid a Middle-east visit over the "dangerous development" in Gaza Strip; French President Nocolas Sarkozy made high-pitch maneuvering in the region, and a group sent by the European Union proposed to Israel a ceasefire scheme.
In her talks with Russian Special Envoy Alexander Sultanov, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said straighforwardly that Israel had no interest with Russia's proposal to be a go-between for Israel and Hamas. Moreover, her spokesman underlined that Israel was wary of any proposal "that would give Hamas a respite allowing it to regroup and re-arm."
President Sarkozy's move is designed to upgrade the French influence and give scope to the Europe's special role in the Middle-east region. He represented not only France but the EU in a sense, as he had talked over phones with both German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to coordinate their stances before setting out his mission. In view of outcome, he did not succeed with his trip. As for the EU group, it proposed for a 48-hour "humanitarian" ceasefire, but met with a flat rejection.
Meanwhile, Iran has sternly warned Israel for the dangerous consequences from a ground offensive into the Gaza strip as its protests against the sustained Israeli bombardment of the Hamas-run Palestinian area, according to the Saudi Arabian "Middle East News". Otherwise, it noted, "Gaza will become Zionist Cemetery" for Israeli troops. It indicates that Iran is mulling over a military option in the Gaza conflict to further boost its traditional force of influence and impact in Gaza affairs, in a bid to contend with the U.S., said a Middle East Media commentary.
As fumes of gunpowder from artillery fire are currently diffusing across the Gaza Strip, some countries are prompted to engagement for their self-interests. For things relating to the Middle East, it seems that it is only up to the United States to manage, and this is possibly the reason Israel doest not care for mediations of any other nations.
The United States is "working for a ceasefire" to extinguish the war flames in Gaza right now, noted a White House official, whereas the Israeli ceasefire agreement and conditions set forth by the U.S. for Gaza Ceasefire are interrelated to some extent. So, people hope that diplomatic efforts of various parties could be fruitful and help to bring about the Palestinian-Israeli ceasefire as quickly as possible.
By People's Daily Online and contributed by PD resident reporter in Egypt Huang Peizhao
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