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Mass. U.S. Senator Markey Weighs In On Ukraine And Gaza

Jim Levulis
/
WAMC

A Malaysia Airlines plane carrying 295 people has crashed in eastern Ukraine. It’s unclear if it was shot down as it was flying over an area wracked by separatist insurgency.Ed Markey serves on the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations. The Democrat from Massachusetts says America should play a mediating and diplomatic role using additional sanctions to scale back Russian support of separatist forces in Ukraine.

“We need to have the Russians withdraw support for the separatist movement and we need to make sure that weapons are not given over to the hands of those that want to harm others,” Markey said. “I hope that this can trigger the kind of common sense reconciliation that is necessary to end the madness in that country.”

Fighting has continued in Ukraine since February.

Rocket attacks have resumed between Israel and Hamas after a temporary cease fire Thursday. The five-hour peace period was interrupted by a mortar attack.

More than 220 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. The Israeli death toll is less than 10 as most of Hamas’ missiles have been destroyed by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.

levulis-7-17-voicer-gaza-clip.mp3
U.S. Senator Ed Markey on the fighting between Hamas and Israel

“Understanding that Hamas does not recognize the right of Israel to exist…that is of course a complicating factor,” Markey said. “But nonetheless it is important for the United States to play a role as it has many times in the past in achieving a ceasefire.”

Markey says the U.S. must help to broker a long-term peace agreement.

Jim is WAMC’s Associate News Director and hosts WAMC's flagship news programs: Midday Magazine, Northeast Report and Northeast Report Late Edition. Email: jlevulis@wamc.org
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