US, ISRAEL LOOKING FOR NEW MEDIATOR FOR CEASEFIRE

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) meets with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (L). US officials believe they will be successful at mediating a ceasefire. (Photo: MEMO) — **Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) meets with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (L). US officials believe they will be successful at mediating a ceasefire.** (Photo: MEMO)

Doha, 23 Ramadan 1435/21 July 2014 (MINA) – A diplomatic source told Arabi 21 that the US and Israel are looking for an alternative negotiator to Egypt in order to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian resistance, Arabi 21 website reported on Friday.

The website also reported that Anadolu Agency has said Israel has backed itself into a corner and is looking for a way out, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

According to the diplomatic source, who wishes to remain anonymous, the US is now diplomatically active and is conducting contacts and discussions with regional powers to reach an initiative accepted by all sides.

The source said that senior American officials are being engaged in attempts to end the crisis through indirect talks with resistance movements. He said it is mainly Qatar and Turkey who are the mediators. He also said that senior US officials are to visit the region soon for this reason.

Regarding the failed Egyptian initiative, the source reported that US officials expressed their anger because Cairo did not discuss it with Washington and the US Foreign Department was surprised with the announcement of the initiative. Resistance movements have also said they were unaware of the it.

Russian called Friday evening for making all possible efforts to stop the conflict between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, WAFA Palestinian News & Information Agency reported.

“The situation around Gaza Strip has entered a new and serious stage of tension,” said the Russian Foreign Ministry in a press release, and noted that Egypt-brokered ceasefire proposal could provide a basis for calm and a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The Ministry offered its assistance to find a way out of this serious crisis.

The European Parliament called for an end to Israeli military action against Gaza and to rocket attacks on Israel in a resolution voted on Thursday.

“The EU foreign policy chief and the member states must do more to support a ceasefire agreement and put an immediate stop to all acts of violence threatening civilians, MEPs said, calling on Israelis and Palestinians to resume direct peace talks.

Parliament mourns the loss of civilian lives and denounces the recent murders of three Israeli teenagers and a Palestinian teenager. There can be no justification for the deliberate targeting of civilians, which is a war crime, and for the destruction of civilian infrastructure, MEPs said, stressing that both Israeli and Palestinian citizens have the right to live in peace and security.

Parliament encourages key regional players, notably Egypt and Jordan, to keep up their efforts to calm the situation.

MEPs underline that non violent means are the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians and calls for serious and credible efforts by both sides and the international community to resume direct peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. These talks must achieve concrete results and the EU must play a more active role to this end, MEPs add. (T/P02/P04/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)