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China proposes a Gaza peace conference while the US and Israel double down on war
The majority of the global public want peace – can Beijing help bring this about, asks FIONA EDWARDS of No Cold War
An Israeli army tank moves near the Gaza Strip border, in southern Israel, January 24, 2024
JULIA BARD looks at the persistence of anti-semitism on the political right – and its troubling emergence on parts of the left, too
As unemployment rises and living standards fall, May’s economic announcement risks locking Britain into further decline rather than charting a new course, warns JON TRICKETT MP
Despite systemic racism and far-right hostility, Britain’s migrant and black communities continue to contribute, inspire, and resist. Through education, art, and intergenerational solidarity, the next generation can help shape a future rooted in justice, understanding, and hope, says ZITA HOLBOURNE
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AFTER three-and-a-half months of Israel’s murderous assault on Gaza, which has been entirely sustained by the United States, China’s proposal for a “large-scale” and “authoritative” international conference to discuss peace in Gaza is an important and judicious initiative that reflects the views of the overwhelming majority of global public opinion favouring an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the idea of a Gaza peace conference on January 14, during his trip to Egypt. China’s proposals include a call for the international community to take immediate action to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and to ensure rapid and barrier-free delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip — which is currently impossible due to Israel’s siege.
China has set out that the basic principle for discussing the future of Gaza must be “Palestinians governing Palestine.” China continues to make the case that the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, is the key to a lasting peace.
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