"Another bloody stage of the war in Gaza seems to have come to an end, but by no means does this mean an end to the way it haunts Brazil's diplomatic agenda, precisely the one labeled a 'dwarf' by Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor. … Brazil should adopt a statement similar to that of Mercosur - a moderate statement more-or-less in line with the declarations of European and even U.S. leaders ... Like it or not, such verbal acrobatics are absolutely necessary if in the future, Brazil wants at all to be part of any global negotiation on the Israel-Palestine peace process."
By Clóvis Rossi*
August 27, 2014
Brazil - O Globo - Original Articles (Portuguese)
Another bloody stage of the war in Gaza seems to have come to an end, but by no means does this mean an end to the way it haunts Brazil's diplomatic agenda, precisely the one labeled a "dwarf" by Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor.
A summit of UNASUR [Union of South American Nations] is to be held this week, hosted by Uruguayan President José Mujica, who wants a UNASURcommission to formulate a joint position regarding the conflict. [The summit was rescheduled for October due to scheduling conflicts among leaders].
"UNASUR has never turned away from its commitment to address the most important issues on the international agenda," says for example, Uruguayan Foreign Minister Luis Almagro.
President Mujica has a very strong position on this matter - stronger than the note issued by Itamaraty [Brazil's Foreign Ministry], which has drawn a reaction from Israel, for which Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has subsequently apologized. Incidentally, there are some people in the Brazilian government who question whether the apology is endorsed by the government’s executive branch (the Israeli presidency is merely ceremonial).
"UNASUR has never turned away from its commitment to address the most important issues on the international agenda," says for example, Uruguayan Foreign Minister Luis Almagro.
President Mujica has a very strong position on this matter - stronger than the note issued by Itamaraty [Brazil's Foreign Ministry], which has drawn a reaction from Israel, for which Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has subsequently apologized. Incidentally, there are some people in the Brazilian government who question whether the apology is endorsed by the government’s executive branch (the Israeli presidency is merely ceremonial).
According to Mujica, what happened in Gaza was "genocide." Since the host always influences the agenda, it is reasonable to assume that his aggressive stance will permeate the meeting of UNASUR leaders, which [President] Dilma Rousseff will not attend due to campaign engagements.
Furthermore, the traditional pro-Palestine stance of Venezuelan’s Chavista movement, which is always lively and loquacious at meetings of the South American bloc, can be expected to reinforce this confrontational approach.
Venezuela broke off relations with Israel in 2009. Venezuela’s current president, Nicolás Maduro, calls the Israeli offensive in Gaza "a war of extermination," and can be expected to champion this position at the meeting.
Brazilian diplomacy has no interest in deepening the open crisis in relations with Israel. It even hopes that a permanent agreement, or at least one capable of interrupting the war, will already have been reached by the time UNASUR meets.
Furthermore, the traditional pro-Palestine stance of Venezuelan’s Chavista movement, which is always lively and loquacious at meetings of the South American bloc, can be expected to reinforce this confrontational approach.
Venezuela broke off relations with Israel in 2009. Venezuela’s current president, Nicolás Maduro, calls the Israeli offensive in Gaza "a war of extermination," and can be expected to champion this position at the meeting.
Brazilian diplomacy has no interest in deepening the open crisis in relations with Israel. It even hopes that a permanent agreement, or at least one capable of interrupting the war, will already have been reached by the time UNASUR meets.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
In principle, Brazil ought to advocate that UNASUR repeat what four out of five Mercosur members said - with exception to Paraguay – at that group's latest summit.
In its final declaration, Mercosur "vigorously condemns the disproportionate use of force on the part of the Israeli armed forces in the Gaza Strip, which affects mostly civilians, including children and women." It also didn't fail to condemn, "any kind of violent actions against civilian populations in Israel."
It is therefore a moderate statement more-or-less in line with the declarations of European and even North American leaders - traditional allies of Israel.
Like it or not, such verbal acrobatics are absolutely necessary if in the future, Brazil wants at all to be part of any global negotiation on the Israel-Palestine peace process.
After all, as stated by Thomas Carothers, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Center, "The fighting between Israel and Gaza highlights the fact that the failed peace process between Israel and the Palestinians leaves in place not a workable status quo but a fundamental conflict that will keep descending into violence."
In its final declaration, Mercosur "vigorously condemns the disproportionate use of force on the part of the Israeli armed forces in the Gaza Strip, which affects mostly civilians, including children and women." It also didn't fail to condemn, "any kind of violent actions against civilian populations in Israel."
It is therefore a moderate statement more-or-less in line with the declarations of European and even North American leaders - traditional allies of Israel.
Like it or not, such verbal acrobatics are absolutely necessary if in the future, Brazil wants at all to be part of any global negotiation on the Israel-Palestine peace process.
After all, as stated by Thomas Carothers, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Center, "The fighting between Israel and Gaza highlights the fact that the failed peace process between Israel and the Palestinians leaves in place not a workable status quo but a fundamental conflict that will keep descending into violence."
'Clovis Rossi is a special correspondent and member of the Folha editorial board, is a winner of the Maria Moors Cabot award (USA) and is a member of the Foundation for a New Ibero-American Journalism. His column appears on Thursdays and Sundays on page 2 and on Saturdays in the World Notebook section. He is the author, among other works, of Special Envoy: 25 Years Around the World and What is Journalism?'
Fonte: http://worldmeets.us/folhab000072.shtml
