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Diplomatic Efforts Intensify as Israel's Gaza Offensive Continues

By Sonja Pace
Jerusalem
05 January 2009

Diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza conflict are intensifying with a European Union delegation in Jerusalem for talks to be followed by a visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Israeli troops and tanks are pushing deeper into Gaza in an air and ground offensive.

A high-level European Union delegation met in Jerusalem with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

There were assurances of cooperation and humanitarian access, but no indication that a cease-fire is imminent.

Foreign minister Livni repeated Israel's position that it would no longer stand by while Hamas militants launch rockets into Israel.

"I can understand the desire of the international community to see the region calm. This is our dream as well," she said. "This is what we are looking for. Unfortunately, there are those who cannot accept the idea of living in peace in this region."

Livni put the blame squarely on Hamas, whom she described as a terrorist organization linked to Hezbollah in Lebanon, to Syria, and to Iran and part of an extremist camp in the region. Livni said Israel's fight against Hamas goes beyond self defense.

"What we are doing represents the battle in this region in the fight against extremism and terror," added Livni.

The E.U. delegation had come to try to secure a cease-fire and prior to coming to Jerusalem met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Red Sea resort of Sharm al Sheikh.

"We would like very much to obtain a cease-fire, the sooner the better. And in that direction we are going to keep on working and the cooperation with Egypt is going to be fundamental,"
said Javier Solana, EU foreign policy chief.

But amid the increased diplomatic activity, the Israeli ground offensive grinds on and widens, with thousands of Israeli soldiers reported in Gaza, supported by tanks, artillery, war planes, naval vessels and helicopter gun ships.

The military says it continues to strike at Hamas targets and the operation is going according to plan.

Detailed news of what is happening in Gaza is hard to come by as Israel has not allowed free access to Gaza to the media. But civilian residents in Gaza reached by telephone describe being terrified night and day - without electricity, water and adequate food and in constant fear of more Israeli bombings.

Israel says it is targeting only Hamas, but medical officials in Gaza say many civilians are among those killed and injured. They say the Palestinian death toll is more than 520 with more than 2,000 and hospitals struggling to cope.