LA NACION (Argentina) CLARIN (Argentina)
Worldcrunch
BUENOS AIRES - The Argentine capital was at a virtual standstill for a fourth straight day Tuesday as a major subway strike began to take its toll on both people and businesses, La Nacion reports. The strike, which started Friday evening, is expected to continue for at least another day.
The striking subway workers are demanding a 28% pay raise and better working conditions, Clarín reports.
The strike is also bringing to light the difficulty the municipal and national governments have in working together. Federal administrators say the problem with subway workers falls to municipal authorities, while the mayor’s office insists that the strike should be the responsibility of the federal government, La Nacion reports. So far, neither one has contacted the striking workers or their representatives, and union leaders say the strike will continue until someone agrees to negotiate.
The national transport secretary, Alejandro Ramos, asked the mayor not to “take the people hostage,” and to take care of the subway system service. He said, ironically “The head of the city is not taking charge. What does he want, for me to do it? In that case, tomorrow I’ll just take over a whole city.”
Meanwhile, the city is moving slowly. The avenues are choked with cars, and long lines wait hours to get a bus or a taxi, Clarín reports.
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Families of Israeli hostages rally in Jerusalem
The hardest question
What happens next? That's the most difficult question.
The truce will last four days, during which time captives will be exchanged, humanitarian aid will enter Gaza and fuel will be delivered.
But what happens after that? Does the fighting resume after a simple interlude?
Netanyahu committed his government to this last night. But the diplomats of several countries will be working hard to extend the ceasefire, if only to give Israel a chance of securing the release of more hostages.
The Americans are under pressure.
Israel's dilemma will be played out during these few days of military pause. The Israeli army has razed the northern third of the Gaza Strip to the ground, destroyed Hamas infrastructure and doubtless killed many of its fighters — but it is far from having achieved its objective of eradicating the Islamist movement.
Netanyahu, pictured on Nov. 13, had been full-speed ahead on the Gaza assault.
Kobi Gideon/Israeli Gpo/ZUMA
Showing its hand
Resuming the war as it has been for the past seven weeks will not be easy, though.
Firstly, the fact that an initial truce has been accepted will increase calls for a real ceasefire, as was done yesterday by the BRICS countries — China, Russia, South Africa and a few others — who will be taking this message to the United Nations Security Council.
Secondly, because the Americans are under pressure, both internally and externally: they have made it clear that they will not support an Israeli offensive in southern Gaza without a plan to reduce civilian casualties.
The terrible images from Gaza are a real political factor, and even if Israel doesn't care, their Western allies can't ignore them.
Finally, the pressure is also mounting to acknowledge that there can only be a political solution to the Palestinian problem — prolonging the war will not change this fact.
By showing its hand on the negotiating table to save the hostages, Israel has put an end to its logic of war. That, however, does not necessarily mean that a logic of peace will prevail.
- Israel Is Decimated, Hamas Is Doomed ›
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