At last, a peace of sorts eventually seems to have come to Gaza and Israel, but maintaining it may be as hard as getting here in the first place. Once the dust hopefully settles in Gaza and a huge sigh of relief resonates around the globe, the even more daunting challenge begins.
Both the UN and the Trump 20-point plan suggest that an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) is required to maintain the ceasefire and begin the daunting and complex humanitarian operation to feed the starving, turn the power and water back on, start the clear up, rebuild, and in time establish a local Palestinian Police Force. To begin with, a small contingent from US Central Command is setting up a “Civil Military Co-ordination Centre” to get things moving.
Some are suggesting, among them me, that the stabilisation force should replicate the structures and methods of KFOR, the Kosovo Force, set up around 25 years ago to keep the peace in the province of Kosovo. I was involved with KFOR as a youngish Army officer for several years. We were focused on building a secure environment and guaranteeing the freedom of movement through all Kosovo territory for all citizens, irrespective of their ethnic origins. KFOR operated under a UN resolution, but it was a Nato force, not a UN one. This is a very important difference. Secondly, KFOR focused on enabling humanitarian aid and getting the local infrastructure up and running again. As in Gaza, there were major ethnic and religious issues. KFOR is, in fact, still in place, though it is much smaller these days and being slowly wound down.
At last, a peace of sorts eventually seems to have come to Gaza and Israel, but maintaining it may be as hard as getting here in the first place. Once the dust hopefully settles in Gaza and a huge sigh of relief resonates around the globe, the even more daunting challenge begins.
Both the UN and the Trump 20-point plan suggest that an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) is required to maintain the ceasefire and begin the daunting and complex humanitarian operation to feed the starving, turn the power and water back on, start the clear up, rebuild, and in time establish a local Palestinian Police Force. To begin with, a small contingent from US Central Command is setting up a “Civil Military Co-ordination Centre” to get things moving.
Some are suggesting, among them me, that the stabilisation force should replicate the structures and methods of KFOR, the Kosovo Force, set up around 25 years ago to keep the peace in the province of Kosovo. I was involved with KFOR as a youngish Army officer for several years. We were focused on building a secure environment and guaranteeing the freedom of movement through all Kosovo territory for all citizens, irrespective of their ethnic origins. KFOR operated under a UN resolution, but it was a Nato force, not a UN one. This is a very important difference. Secondly, KFOR focused on enabling humanitarian aid and getting the local infrastructure up and running again. As in Gaza, there were major ethnic and religious issues. KFOR is, in fact, still in place, though it is much smaller these days and being slowly wound down.