Thursday, May 18, 2006

Israel reopens Karni crossing.

Israel reopened the Karni Crossing yesterday for the first time in six months on the orders of Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

The closing of the crossing has been responsible for much of the financial hardship felt by the citizens of Gaza as it has left them unable to trade their goods.

Professor Rafi Walden and Professor Zvi Bentwich, two senior Israeli clinicians on the board of Physicians for Human Rights ­ Israel, called on the Israeli government to take immediate action to pay directly for drugs, medical salaries and hospital treatment for Palestinians to relieve what they warned was now a rapidly worsening medical emergency in Gaza.

They rejected claims that the international and Israeli boycott of funding to the PA would not affect humanitarian needs. Professor Bentwich said of the government: "The reality of what they have done is clearly not fitting with what they have stated."

Meanwhile Hamas have deployed a new militia in an attempt to restore order in Gaza, in what appears to be a direct confrontation with Palestinian President Abbas.

Meanwhile in Strasbourg, Mr Abbas said in an interview with AP that Hamas "can't survive" if it continues to ignore international demands that it refrain from violence and recognise Israel.

"They should adapt to international standards, they should be part of the international community. Without that I don't think they can survive, I don't think they can deliver," he said. Mr Abbas added: "Whether it is reasonable to expect a change or not we have to give them a chance. They've been in office less than a month and a half. They should take their chance."
Abbas appears to be ignoring the fact that Hamas have offered talks on a two state solution and have had an offer of "quiet for quiet" rejected by the Israelis.

Both the US and Israel continue to refuse to negotiate with the Palestinian people's democratically elected leadership and, despite the opening of the crossing, the Palestinian people continue to suffer hardship.

I think Abbas would serve his people better by encouraging the US and Israel to reverse their policy rather than to mouth the US/Israeli script regarding "recognition."

Abbas is in an admittedly horrendous position, caught between Hamas and the harsh demands of Israel and the US; however, if he continues to ignore the choice of the Palestinian people, he will begin to be perceived as a puppet. At which point he will lose all relevance.

No comments: