A legally-acceptable peacekeeping force can only be set up through the auspices of the United Nations Security Council and that would mean both sides of the war agreeing, writes Joe Lauria.
Knowing well in advance that Russia would reject it, the U.S. and Ukraine announced with fanfare that its ceasefire deal was in “Russia’s court” in what was an exercise of pure public relations, writes Joe Lauria.
In a bizarre statement the U.S. president said construction workers “would slowly and carefully” begin rebuilding Gaza without the need for U.S. troops. He said Israel will restart the fighting, reports Joe Lauria.
Three years before it intervened in Syria, Russia feared an Islamist takeover in Damascus would lead to widespread chaos in the region, like a new Afghanistan in the Levant, reported Joe Lauria in 2012.
U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon are permitted to use force in several circumstances, including self-defense and prevention of hostile action in its area of deployment, writes Joe Lauria.
New York demonstrators intend to denounce the prime minister’s visit to the U.N., where members last week demanded that Israel end its illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories.