Americas: Calls for Peace in Palestine · Global Voices
Renata Avila

Voices of solidarity are being heard from across the Americas for the situation taking place in Gaza.  Several Latin American bloggers are expressing their frustration, as well as their hopes for peace in that part of the world.  However, they feel that after these bombings that achieving peace in the Middle East is now even further away.
The blogger  Voces [es] from Cuba writes:
Se va el 2008 con las noticias de costumbre sobre los bombardeos en Gaza. Como si fuera posible perder la capacidad de asombro, de enojo e impotencia, de rabia concentrada ante los muertos, antes los médicos que se desesperan porque no alcanzan para aliviar tanta herida abierta, tanta sangre. Grito a la paz por Palestina, grito a la paz y a la esperanza, luto en medio de las fiestas de este mundo que poco tiene que festejar. Grito a la paz por Palestina… paz… paz… paz… PAZ… PAZ.. PAZ… PAZ… PAAAZ!!!… a ver si alguien escucha…
The year 2008 is over and with it comes the news of bombings in Gaza, As if it were possible to lack the capacity of being astonished, of being angry, of feeling helpless, and angry at the deaths.  The doctors are desperate because they cannot attend to so many open wounds, so much blood. I scream appealing for peace for Palestine, I scream for peace and for hope. I mourn during the celebrations of this world that has little to celebrate. I scream peace for Palestine…peace… peace… peace… PEACE… PEACE… PEACE… PEACE!!! Let's see if someone listens…
Giorgio Trucchi wrote in Barricada [es], a collective blog in Nicaragua about his concerns of the double standards by the international community, while they sanctioned Nicaragua quickly and efficiently, no one seems to really act for Palestina, neither the European Union nor the U.S.:
La comunidad internacional parece estar observando con impotencia esos acontecimientos y lo que podría ser uno de los desenlaces más cruentos y feroces contra el pueblo palestino. Hasta el momento no se le mira ese fervor, demostrado en otras ocasiones, en exigir sin titubear el respeto de los tan declamados derechos humanos. Ni se está viendo ese mismo fervor, que por ejemplo en las semanas pasadas la Unión Europea y los Estados Unidos demostraron contra Nicaragua, con el congelamiento de fondos y proyectos y resoluciones parlamentarias, frente a las condiciones espantosas en que vive la población palestina en los territorios de Gaza.
The international community seems to be powerless watching the events, which could be one of the most cruel and tragic endings for the Palestinian people. Until now, you cannot see the fervent appeals seen on other occasions, demeaning without a doubt, the respect of the “so-called” human rights.  One cannot see the same fervor for example, that took place in the past few weeks when the European Union and the United states shown against Nicaragua, when they froze funds and projects and resolutions from members of Congress, and compare it to the surprising conditions in which the Palestinian population lives in the Gaza territories.
Susana Villarán from Peru provides her thoughts on the background [es] of the situation going on in Gaza,  adding that the other problems taking place on the ground in Palestine, is not only the armed conflict, but the neglected protection for civilians and also impunity:
La contraparte de la negligencia con la que actúan las fuerzas israelíes es la impunidad: un mes antes de estos ataques, Yesh Din, una organización israelí defensora de los derechos humanos, publicó un informe sobre la materia. Según este entre el 2001 y el 2007 unos 2000 civiles palestinos murieron a manos del ejército israelí. Sin embargo esas 2000 muertes produjeron únicamente 78 cargos contra soldados israelíes, y solo cinco de ellos fueron condenados. Aún en esos casos, las penas fueron sensiblemente menores a aquellas que permitía la legislación israelí.
The counterpart of the negligence by the armed forces is impunity: a month before these attacks, Yesh Din, an Israeli NGO and defender of human rights published a report about impunity. According to them, between 2001 and 2007 around 2000 Palestinian civilians died at the hands of the Israeli armed forces. However, of those 2000 deaths only 78 charges against Israeli soldiers were filed and only 5 soldiers were sentenced. And even in those cases, the penalties were slightly lower than those regularly permitted by Israeli law.
Blogger Morsa from Peru wonders why it is necessary to bomb a university [es], while describing this he also appeals his readers to act against war and also that he will not tolerate antisemitism on his blog.
Continúa la barbarie en Gaza. Para que no quede dudas que el ataque no es selectivo (o por lo menos, militarmente selectivo), la Universidad Islámica de Gaza también ha sido bombardeada. El pretexto ha sido que en dicho centro de estudios se encontraban fuerzas extremistas, lo cual, como señala Akram Habeeb (profesor de literatura, becario Fulbright, de dicha universidad), es mentira.
The savagery in Gaza continues.  Undoubtedly, the attack is not selective, or at least it is not looking only for military targets. The Islamic University from Gaza was also bombed. The excuse was that inside the university were extremist members, which is a lie, according Akram Habeeb, literature professor and Fulbright fellow at that university.
Blogger Alta Hora de la Noche [es], from Ayuxtepeque, El Salvador reflected upon the complex situation:
Es un problema complejísimo, que desborda lo que yo pueda decir en unas líneas. Pero si no puedo decir que no me toca la barbarie, que no resiente mi corazon ver que una vez más la solución a los problemas de esa región del mundo en que vivo se vé más lejana.
Many intellectuals in Chile signed a public statement against the attacks, in solidarity with the people from Palestine, it can be found in several blogs as “Poesia para Alentar Coraje” (Poetry to Encourage Courage).