German Foreign Minister Westerwelle calls Gaza blockade unacceptable

2010-11-08 22:17:45 GMT+7 (ICT)

GAZA CITY (BNO NEWS) -- German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle during his visit to the Gaza Strip on Monday criticized the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the region, calling it unacceptable.

"It is not acceptable to blockade 1.5 million people in Gaza," Westerwelle told reporters, while becoming the first member of the German government to visit Hamas-controlled Gaza since 2006. The visit is part of his two-day trip to the Middle East.

In mid-2007, Israel and Egypt closed its borders on Gaza after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip area.

"[The blockade] strengthens the radicals and weakens the moderates and the opposite is what we should be doing," he added. "It is important that imports and exports are allowed through again."

During his visit, Westerwelle toured a UN-run girls school and is expected to visit a water treatment plant as well. In addition, the German minister has a planned meeting with Gazan business representatives to discuss economic issues regarding the blockade.

Westerwelle's visit is primarily focused on promoting peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official criticized Westerwelle's decision to not meet with members of the Hamas leadership due to their refusal to renounce violence and recognize Israel. "It was completely wrong to come to Gaza and not meet with the legal government's representative," Hamas' Kamal Shrafi stated.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-08

If Schwesterwelle meet Hamas he is in deep trouble with the german ZdJ and will loose his job..

he mention in Gaza to release the IDF Shalit, forgot to say in Israel to release the 7000 Pals in Israel prisons including 360 children

At least include links to some Hamas terrorist propaganda websites - as usual - when making such allegations.

who is a Terrorist, the one drop cluster bombs, white phosphorus shells and other daedly war toys or the one who fight occupation freedom, starvation receive them?????

who is a Terrorist,

HAMAS!

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/510712/terrorist_activities_by_the_hamas_terrorist_organization_3/

who is a Terrorist,

HAMAS!

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/510712/terrorist_activities_by_the_hamas_terrorist_organization_3/

dear Unwanted Member, u are a victim of the US media propaganda. From the Gaza people electet Gov Hamas fight occupation and freedom.

You have to repeat a lie many times till st. people belief it

best reg.

Edited November 9, 201015 yr by hobanse

who is a Terrorist, the one drop cluster bombs, white phosphorus shells and other daedly war toys or the one who fight occupation freedom, starvation receive them?????

Ahhh a philosophical question: Depends on the perspective of the person I suppose;

For many Germans, the Turkish, North African and arab nationals living in the country are an affront to the Germans, Mostly "parasites", they refuse to learn the language or to respect local customs even though these people have moved to Germany and expect all the benefits and priveliges of being in Germany. When the foreigners do not get what they demand they respond with violent crimes and riots.

For many Turks, the exploitation that has occurred is painful. Invited in to take on low level jobs that Germans didn't want and then mistreated. Used as convenient tools by those espousing "social justice", only to be dumped when the leftists find a new cause celebre to embrace. Used as a target by the extreme right and blamed for things which were not their doing. For Turks, getting lumped in with Arabs and North Africans is even more insulting since it assumes that all "darkies" are the same.

Two sides to some issues.

[u are a victim of the US media propaganda.

Actually I have read a lot of credible history books on the Middle East. Those Hamas hate web-sites that some posters have posted links to contain nothing but lies and propoganda.

Edited November 9, 201015 yr by Ulysses G.

What u expect?

Hamas hate web-sites tranlator is Rita Katz.

If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.

best reg.

who is a Terrorist, the one drop cluster bombs, white phosphorus shells and other daedly war toys or the one who fight occupation freedom, starvation receive them?????

"It is not acceptable to blockade 1.5 million people in Gaza," Westerwelle told reporters, while becoming the first member of the German government to visit Hamas-controlled Gaza since 2006. The visit is part of his two-day trip to the Middle East.

Good thing he did not visit on a boat containing kitchen utensils. He may have found himself killed by the operators of the blockade

Only if he hired a bunch of Turkish mercenaries and tried to run the legitimate military naval blockade and supply the terrorist group Hamas.

the legitimate military naval blockade

Hmmm an oxymoron

Too bad no one knew that when the U.S. stopped nukes from being shipped to Cuba by the Soviet Union.

Too bad no one knew that when the U.S. stopped nukes from being shipped to Cuba by the Soviet Union.

Bad example since your pro the Us sending missiles & planes to Israel eh? Or is that only allowed in certain approved cases?

Israel needs weapons to defend itself from much of the Arab world who have declared war on them numerous times.

The nukes going to Cuba were offensive weapons from the Soviet Union.

Edited November 10, 201015 yr by Ulysses G.

Israel needs weapons to defend itself .

ummm I am sure if asked the others may claim the same

Israel needs weapons to defend itself .

ummm I am sure if asked the others may claim the same

Maybe they should stop attacking Israel so they don't need to.

Israel needs weapons to defend itself from much of the Arab world who have declared war on them numerous times.

Too bad no one knew that when the U.S. stopped nukes from being shipped to Cuba by the Soviet Union.

Bad example since your pro the Us sending missiles & planes to Israel eh? Or is that only allowed in certain approved cases?

Are you suggesting then that Israel should purchase its defensive weapons from China?

Here's the conumdrum you may face, If Israel didn't purchase some weapons from the USA, it would hurt some industries and cost jobs in the USA, but more importantly, a lot of defense innovations would be denied to the USA. There are many items that are shared which are not discussed in public. You are aware that many of the electronic warfare countermeasures now deployed by the USA originated in israel right? The Israelis have a knack of getting systems from the USA and taking them to another level and then sharing those advances with the USA. All those drones the US uses in Afghansitan were developed in large part through joint cooperation with Israel.

I suppose, the US should actually be thanking Russia. Israel's capabilities really surged with the influx with the Russian emigres in the 80's and 90's.

ummm I am sure if asked the others may claim the same

Maybe they should stop attacking Israel so they don't need to.

Israel needs weapons to defend itself from much of the Arab world who have declared war on them numerous times.

Yes I have heard the *claims* & also read translations that did not match them..

All that aside if BOTH sides stopped attacking then it would be a start.

.

Are you trying to claim that the Arab countries have not declared war on Israel over and over again - that it was all "mistranslations"?

Those conspiracy theory websites are a better place to spread such poisonous fantasies.

Edited November 10, 201015 yr by Ulysses G.

Israel needs weapons to defend itself .

ummm I am sure if asked the others may claim the same

Maybe they should stop attacking Israel so they don't need to.

Israel needs weapons to defend itself from much of the Arab world who have declared war on them numerous times.

Maybe you should wake up to the real world and realize Israel was build on land that was stolen from the legitimate owners. People who have their land stolen their families raped and murdered tend to resist. This is called legitimate resistance against occupation. Perhaps Israel should stop occupying land that does not belong to them, because as long as they will keep stealing more land there will never be peace.

But 7,5 million jews immigrants from all over the world need more land.

1930 the jews poulation in Palestine was 500 000, now 7,5 million, so Israel need more Land, stray bombs and other deadly wr toys 3 billion USD from the US taxpayer a year to bild new, nice home on stolen land

best reg.

Edited November 10, 201015 yr by hobanse

Maybe you should wake up to the real world and realize Israel was build on land that was stolen from the legitimate owners.

Then why does the "International community" that you go on about so much - when it suits your aims - recognize Israel's right to exist? You makes justifications for Hamas and co, but they have no plans to abide by that particular U.N. decision. What utter hypocrisy.

1930 the jews poulation in Palestine was 500 000, now 7,5 million

They had to take in all the Jews that were expelled by Muslim countries. Why don't you write a post about that?

Jews were expelled as an understandable reaction ...

This pretty much shows were you are at - able to justify any crimes against Jews even if they did nothing to justify it

.

By the way, Palestine was never a country, people or language except the one that was Jewish many centuries ago.

You are spewing dishonest propaganda.

Edited November 10, 201015 yr by Ulysses G.

Jews were expelled as an understandable reaction ...

This pretty much shows were you are at - able to justify any crimes against Jews even if they did nothing to justify it.

I know where you're at as well, an Israel apologist of the very worst kind, because you all to easily forget that this whole problem in fact started with the "creation" of Israel

on land that belonged to other people, as a so called "safe haven" based on a book full of fairy tales, and this continues until today. land grab after land grab, combined with oppression of the legal owners of the land. So as long as israel exists, the problem will continue. Helen Thomas was all to right when she said a few months ago that it is time to call of this miserable failed experiment and have the people that were coerced from all corners of the world to move back where they came from, and return the land to its legal owners

Jews were expelled as an understandable reaction ...

This pretty much shows were you are at - able to justify any crimes against Jews even if they did nothing to justify it.

I know where you're at as well, an Israel apologist of the very worst kind, because you all to easily forget that this whole problem in fact started with the "creation" of Israel

on land that belonged to other people, as a so called "safe haven" based on a book full of fairy tales, and this continues until today. land grab after land grab, combined with oppression of the legal owners of the land. So as long as israel exists, the problem will continue. Helen Thomas was all to right when she said a few months ago that it is time to call of this miserable failed experiment and have the people that were coerced from all corners of the world to move back where they came from, and return the land to its legal owners

A Helen Thomas fan. That explains a lot.

A Helen Thomas fan who thinks it is OK to expel innocent Jews for doing nothing and does not believe that Israel has a right to exist. I actually prefer debating these types to the ones who pretend otherwise. At least he is honest.

Uhhh, I see that Egypt also closed its border. How come no condemnation of Egypt from some respondents?

I can't wait to see the explanations given.