The UN: pressure cooker or release valve?
23.09.11
All the apprehension and manuevering surrounding Palestine's membership bid culminated today in the speeches by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas
and Israeli prime cur Benjamin Netanyahu. In their distinct styles, both leaders gave rousing speeches and offered theatrical gestures.
Abbas waved Palestine's operation for full membership and received a
thunderous ovation. For his part, Netanyahu challenged Abbas to start out
direct negotiations immediately in UN headquarters. "What is there to
stop off us?" he asked .
Meawnhile, the Quartet was reportedly
finalizing a affirmation that would put the Palestinian membership
application on ice while calling for accelerated peacefulness negotiations.
Taken together, the last few days of frenetic UN diplomacy have created
the apparent impression that the status quo is unsustainable and that
something must change--and fast. Players who normally say slight about
the Middle East peace process have all been forced to take stands on the
advisability of the membership notice. Various commentators have
suggested that the days when the United States could effectively
overlook the peace process have ended.
Source: Foreign Policy (blog)
Pressure cooker
18.09.11
The north London giants are languishing in 15th stead in the Premier League having garnered just four points from their first five games, and Wenger's men twice threw away the pilot to fall 4-3 at Blackburn on Saturday.
Smith said: "How prolonged can Arsenal go on like this if results don't improve? We're seeing the back pages of the papers today saying 'Danger! Crisis! Crisis!' This is obviously going to continue into Monday.
"The enquiry will be prolonged and unless results improve it will carry on. At what point do the house step into the limelight and say something? Ivan Gazidis seems to be brave enough to go in front of the fans and accuse them of judging the proprietor.
"Is Gazidis back-tracking now by coming out and saying the board are behind him (Wenger)? That contradicts everything he said before the start of the pep up because he said that the fans would judge him.
"There are mixed feelings amongst the fans now, without a track of a doubt. Some of the fans are saying: 'He's been fantastic for the football lodge and it would be a disgrace to sack him. Maybe they should move him and bring someone else in.' I'm not so sure at this item.
Source: SkySports