Monday, May 01, 2006

Gaza Staggers as US/EU Policy Kicks In.

There's a very disturbing article referred to in My Occupied Territory outlining the very real hardship that is currently befalling the Palestinians as the result of the US and EU's disgraceful decision to end aid to the Palestinians because of the election of Hamas, and Israel's decision to withhold tax receipts that legally belong to the Palestinian Authority.

People are currently being turned away from hospitals because of a lack of medicines.

Mazen al-Aloul, chief nurse at Shifa, said employees were depressed about not getting their salaries.

"We suffer serious shortages in everything, but most importantly ... dealing with difficult illnesses like cancer and kidney failure," he said.

"We know America stands with Israel but we urge Europe, the mother of democracy, to lift the siege on our people," he said.

Nor was any of this unexpected. On April 16th I pointed out that this was now the official US and EU policy towards the Palestinians.

The rationale to all this was explained by Dov Weisglass, an adviser to Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, earlier this year. 'The idea is to put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger.'

We appear to have decided to starve them into submission for having dared to vote for a government that we do not approve of.

Also, Israel's decision to close the border has meant trading in the Gaza Strip has ground to a halt.

Outside the hospital, Gaza's normally bustling markets are almost deserted.

"Everyday we open our shops, clear the dust, sit down to drink tea and coffee and leave in the afternoon," said Mohammad Zaki, owner of a clothes shop.

"It has never been this bad."

Even taxi drivers said they would soon stop working.

"We understand we are being punished for electing Hamas but this has gone too far. People may soon explode," taxi driver Khamis Karem said.

What is currently being done to the Palestinians in our name is little short of disgraceful. Nor will it lead to the collapse of the Hamas leadership, which is the supposed aim of our barbarous treatment of these people.

If this continues, the Gaza Strip will explode.

Terrorising civilians with the aim of changing the actions of a government is an almost textbook definition of terrorism.

Or do the rules change when it's us who are doing the terrorising?

6 comments:

M. Simon said...

Hamas official policy is to not recognize the State of Israel. Evidently Israel does not recognize Hamas. Seems like an even trade.

Hamas is supported and trained by Iran. I see no reason why the Iranians can't support their buddies. Or the Saudis could pitch in. Both countries have lots of oil money.

Did you know that one of the Hamas guys who won in the election was nicknamed "Hitler". Such charming people.

BTW the only reason the Palestinians are still at war with the Israelis is because some one is financing them. Stop the cash flow and the Palis will deal. Follow the Money.

M. Simon said...

Gaza will explode?

You mean Hamas can't control its own territory?

Or perhaps exploding in Gaza is preferable to exploding in Israel. Some might come to that conclusion.

You know how it is. You elect Hitler you wind up on the short end of a war. Most unfortunate.

M. Simon said...

If we give Hamas money their purity will be ruined.

You start with money and before long you wind up with capitalism. We certainly don't want Hamas tainted with that sort of thing.

M. Simon said...

I advise the Palestinians what Rundstedt advised the Germans in July of '44 - "Make peace you fools".

Of course saying that got him fired. I suppose the Stupidstinians have the same problem.

M. Simon said...

Suha has billions. Maybe she could make a donation.

Kel said...

Hamas have maintained ceasefire for over a year now and recently offered Israel a deal of "quiet for quiet". Israel repsonded with a rocket attack on the Northern Gaza Srip.which killed six people.

If we believe in democracy, which Bush constantly says he does, then we should respect the democratically elected leadership.

Starving the Palestinians because we dislike the choices they have made makes us hypocrites. What are we saying? That we only believe in democracy as long as it yields results we approve of?