Israel-Palestine conflict: Gaza ceasefire ‘not enough’ – Palestinian minister

The Palestinians’ top diplomat said a ceasefire in Gaza will enable 2 million Palestinians to sleep Thursday night (local time) but it’s “not enough at all” and the world must now tackle the difficult issues of Jerusalem’s future and achieving an independent Palestinian state.

Riyad Al-Malki told reporters on the sidelines of an emergency meeting of the UN General Assembly on the conflict between Israel and Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers that while a ceasefire is good it doesn’t address “the core issue” that started the violence.

He said that is Jerusalem, citing the “desecration” by Israeli soldiers and settlers of the Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, and the Israeli policy of evicting Palestinians from their homes in the city’s different neighbourhoods including Sheikh Jarra.

Israel captured east Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and Gaza, territories the Palestinians want for their future state, in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a move not recognised internationally, and views the entire city as its capital.

Edith M Lederer

source:stuff.co.nz