Dialogue, not tit-for-tat violence, the way to resolve burning issues: China Daily editorial
China DailyA general view of Tehran after several explosions were heard, in Tehran, Iran, October 26, 2024. By warning its arch foe not to hit back after the latest strikes, Tel Aviv is trying to justify its Saturday campaign as a retaliation for Iran's Oct 1 missile attacks on Israel, seemingly telling Teheran it is now even. Iran's attacks four weeks ago were in retaliation to Israel's assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Teheran on July 31, and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps general Abbas Nilforoushan on Sept 27. Another key fact Tel Aviv has intentionally ignored is that, thanks to the persuasion of many pro-peace countries, including China, Teheran exercised remarkable restraint after Israel's assassination of Haniyeh in its capital so as not to disturb the then ongoing Gaza cease-fire talks that were believed to be nearing a deal at that juncture. All that being said, the focus of a meeting the United Nations Security Council convened on Monday at Iran's call to discuss Israel's latest attacks should not be on how they should be defined according to international law, but for how long the US will allow the Middle East crisis to continue.