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Gaza Ceasefire Over, EU 3 Bypass Jordan Draft, US Says It Depends

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 21, more here -- After the most recent Gaza ceasefire ended, on August 20 the UN Security Council's members agreed to "elements to the press," which UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant read-out at 6 pm, here.

   Inner City Press asked Lyall Grant, what about the pending draft resolution? He said there was a need to respond quickly to the breakdown of the ceasefire, but "there is a second stage." He mentioned the Jordanian draft and some "other ideas" which he said were discussed at the Council's lunch with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier in the day.

   Now on August 21 the UK, France and Germany  has circulated their "Elements," including returning Gaza to the Palestinian Authority and ending the blockade "taking into account the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access." At the US State Department briefing on August 21, deputy spokesperson Marie Harf was asked if the US would support a resolution. It depends what it looks like, she said. With the "Elements" now circulated, what next?

  On August 21, Inner City Press asked the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine Riyad Mansour why the Jordanian draft was not put to a vote. He said that some members wanted to wait and see what happens in Cairo. Afterward the Permanent Representative of a major Muslim country came and told Inner City Press of growing frustration at the Security Council's process - and at the Secretary General.

 France's AFP, purporting an info-graphic of journalists killed last year, listed four as killed "in Gaza." Since all other listed jurisdiction are full UN member states, some surmised AFP's nomenclature let off the hook the killer of those journalists. Despite calling it social media, hours later AFP has not responded.

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