[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:

Consider the contrast:

"All terrorist groups in Gaza must disarm"
Council of the European Union 15.8.2014

The following statement by Secretary of State John Kerry has NOTHING CLOSE
TO THE EU call.

Mr. Kerry talks of reconstruction but "peace and security, without terrorist
attacks, without rockets, without tunnels" is relegated to "the next
phase"..."future of the region"..."long term solution for Gaza".

But bluntly: which comes first? the Messiah or the removal of the rockets?
=====
Statement on Today's Cease-fire Agreement
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
August 26, 2014
http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/08/230910.htm

We strongly support today’s cease-fire agreement, and call on all parties to
fully and completely comply with its terms. We hope very much that this
cease-fire will prove to be durable and sustainable, that it will put an end
to rocket and mortar attacks, and that it will help to bring about an
enduring end to the conflict in Gaza.

As soon as calm is restored, the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian
assistance to the people in Gaza must be accelerated, and the United States
and the international community are fully committed to supporting this
effort. We are also prepared to work with our international partners on a
major reconstruction initiative, with appropriate measures in place to
ensure that this is for the benefit of the civilian population in Gaza, not
Hamas and other terrorist organizations. We look forward to coordinating
closely with President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority on these critical
efforts.

Over the course of the last few weeks, we have continued to work in close
coordination with the Egyptians, the Israelis and the Palestinian Authority,
and others in the region to arrive at this moment of opportunity. I want to
commend the Egyptians for their role in hosting the negotiations in Cairo
and for continuing to work to reach agreement on a cease-fire.

We are all aware that this is an opportunity, not a certainty. Today’s
agreement comes after many hours and days of intensive discussions about how
a sustainable cease-fire might provide the space and the opportunity to
address long-term issues. I have assured both Prime Minister Netanyahu and
President Abbas that the United States is ready to continue our engagement
in that effort.

We are approaching the next phase with our eyes wide open. We have been down
this road before and we are all aware of the challenges ahead. Both the
Israelis and the Palestinians have strong views about their needs and the
future of the region. Certain bedrock outcomes, though, are essential if
there is to be long term solution for Gaza. Israelis have to be able to live
in peace and security, without terrorist attacks, without rockets, without
tunnels, without sirens going off and families scrambling to bomb shelters.
Palestinians also need to be able to live in peace and security and have
full economic and social opportunities to build better lives for themselves
and for their children. Getting there will not be easy, but it is the only
path to a future that the people on both sides deserve.
________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on A
rab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il