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Gaza Explodes: Borders Have Turned Into Instruments of Collective Punishment
Gaza has exploded. After months of crushing siege, thousands marched to the Rafah border and, defying police bullets, batons, dogs, and water canons, tore the fences behind which they have been caged for months, crossing into Egypt out of the Gazan abyss.Gaza is a big prison. A wall, electric fences and watchtowers manned by hundreds of armed soldiers make escape almost impossible. Israel's much vaunted disengagement is a fallacy. Gaza is still very much occupied. Even before Hamas was elected into power, the Israeli government not only severely restricted entry from the strip into Israel, but also controlled passage through the border crossing into Egypt and refused to allow the Palestinians to open their airport or seaport.
Two months ago, the Annapolis summit was convened in the US to "kick start the peace process" and "lay the foundation for the establishment of a democratic Palestinian state." A week ago, Bush toured the region from Jerusalem to Riyadh and Sharm el Sheikh loaded with smiles, promises of peace and prosperity, and pledges of "staying engaged".
But for Palestinians, life has grown more unbearable since Bush decided to get "engaged". Since Annapolis, the death toll of Palestinians killed by Israelis has soared 100%. The ratio of Palestinians to Israelis killed last year was the most unbalanced ever, at 40:1, up from 30:1 in 2006 and 4:1 from 2000-2005. The total death toll for 2007 stands at 322 Palestinians and eight Israelis. Of the eight, five were soldiers who died while carrying out military operations inside the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The pretext for these endless killings is the Qassam rockets. But the truth is that the daily incursions, assassinations, and embargo, have proceeded without fail before and after the rockets. The excuses change all the time, but the reality of occupation remains the same.
Since the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, Israel has sealed off all its crossings with Gaza with Washington's full backing. It has also exerted enormous pressure on the Egyptians to close the Rafah border, blocking the only point of passage from the beleaguered strip to the outside world.
Gaza is at Israel's mercy. It depends almost totally on it for electricity and fuel, a result of the 38 years of Israel's direct control over of the Strip. This dependence has grown since June 2006, when Israel bombed Gaza's only power station. This was forced to close on Sunday when Israel blocked fuel shipment to the Strip. And, of course, no electricity does not mean dark candlelit nights only; it means no heating in the cold Gazan winter, and, more crucially, no water, with no fuel to pump, treat, or deliver the vital liquid to homes, schools, medical clinics or hospitals.
It is difficult to imagine the depth of Gazans' misery. For months a terrible cloud of stench has been hanging over the tiny coastal strip. The sanitation system is in a state of paralysis. Raw sewage is spilling out on to the streets, homes and fields, and in order to save fuel, the city has stopped collecting garbage - 400 metric tons a day.
The siege has reduced 85% of Gaza's 1.5 million inhabitants to total dependency on food aid, the highest rate anywhere in the world. More than 95% of businesses and factories have been forced to close their doors (3,500), leading to the loss of more than 65,000 jobs. For Gazans, border closures mean starvation.
The health system is crippled, with rapidly declining medical supplies, generated by the blockage of international aid. Hospitals are out of funds. 107 types of basic medicines are depleted, 136 supplies, including syringes and tape are stopped at the border, and the number of patients permitted to leave for medical treatment has grounded almost to a halt, leading to tens of deaths.
In this unfolding tragedy, borders and crossings have turned into instruments of collective punishment, Israel's way of crushing the Palestinians and bringing them to their knees.
Yesterday, the US representative to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad intervened to block a draft resolution condemning Israel's immoral and inhumane siege of Gaza. This is hardly surprising. Nearly half of the vetoes cast since the UN came into being were by the US on behalf of Israel. This means granting Israel impunity to do as it pleases whatever the international community may think.
Since 9/11, many in the US have been grappling with the question "why do they hate us?" Enormous amounts of money were and continue to be, pumped into a public diplomacy strategy aimed at improving America's image in the world. But the truth is that a mere glimpse of what goes on in Gaza today, or what went on in Jenin, Rafah, or Beit Hanoun before, is enough to undo the work of years of exchange programmes, speaking tours, and PR campaigns. No amount of money, propaganda, or diplomacy can erase the scenes of blood, destruction, and starvation. That is the truth the administration and its hired band of apologists in the US and across the Atlantic are bending backward to conceal from our sights. But try as they may, the people of the region will see America not as it wishes to be seen, but as they experience it first hand: an occupier or an occupier's accomplice.
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11 Comments so far
Show AllYesterday, the US representative to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad intervened to block a draft resolution condemning Israel's immoral and inhumane siege of Gaza.
And supported by Obama:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/rosnerBlog.jhtml?itemNo=865078
How about a resolution commending the people in Gaza for breaking out of a jail they never should have been in? And a few billion in humanitarian aid?
I listened to a BBC show where they interviewed people from a settlement(emigrated form the US) and some gaza citizens.
Of course the settlers were obnoxious and wouldnt stay in their allotted time--and the gazans were too polite given their situation.
In the end Israel won simply because the argument was framed as two equal sides--ignoring Israel's occupation and military might--and the lop sided casualty figures.
But the Gaza breach with Egypt shows that israel and the US dont know what they are doing.
It will blow up in their faces.
As I told students on 11 Sept 2001, we were counter-attacked for being the ONLY ally of Israel and the ongoing Palestinian Holocaust. It was an act-of-war in retaliation for many acts of war backed/okayed by the USG; it just wasn't the sort of war-act described by Bush. The Terror leashed on the world emanates from the US and Israel, and has since the end of WW2.
As its patron melts into a green-dollar-colored puddle of excrement and becomes unable to back its one ally on the planet, Israel will die the death it's earned.
Clearly the Israelis are a superior people to the Palestinians.
When the Israelis want to murder a Palestinian, they do so. And pretty well every one they kill turns out to have been a terrorist or militant or extremist of some sort.
The Palestinians, on the other hand, have fired hundreds of rockets into the air, and just can't seem to target anything. I get the idea that an Israeli has a better chance of getting hit by lightning, than by a Palestinian rocket. I'm beginning to doubt they are even firing rockets at all...no one could be that incompetent.
The Israelis are way ahead in murdering Palestinians, and getting further ahead all the time,especially with the starvation offensive that they are now carrying out.
If Palestinians want to live, they might as well either leave, or accept their roles as grunt labourers.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23851804.htm
Mubarak seems to be doing at least one decent thing.
Looks like these folks won there protest, or at least a small victory.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7205403.stm
It's a shame that the same dark force of fear that has crippled the US government and a significant sector of its population, also grips Israel. The Jews know firsthand what starvation and prejudice feel like; so it's self-defeating that their leadership is inciting a war that can never be won. Over the past few days news sources carried many of Martin Luther King's best messages, and they apply to the conflict in the Middle East, quite aptly. NOTHING is ever attained through force when its premise is continued injustice. I pray that the enlightened of all effected lands find a way to overcome the misuse of power as seen in the likes of a scourge of new authoritarians who are bringing about the very Armageddon their claims to providing security for citizens so directly undermines.
It is so obvious that these repressive, unlawful measures merely fuel extremism and terrorism. What options do they have? The much-hyped "peace process" has gotten nowhere in 30 years, the other Muslim nations have all but deserted them, and Israel has made it clear that it intends to do as it pleases, international law and UN condemnations notwithstanding. And where is the latest champion of peace, Mr Bush? Dancing with tyrants and wagging his finger at the Palestinians.
to karlof1: it's great to hear another teacher (what level?) have the courage to tell their students the truth of what is happening in the world, as opposed to the propaganda they are constantly exposed to and do not know how to question. (I've already lost one teaching position for speaking the truth to my college students, even though I was accused of "expressing my opinions in the classroom", something I was expressly forbidden to do--at COLLEGE level???)
During that period (2001-2003), I noticed my fellow instructors looking around nervously and speaking softly even when speaking to me about the horrors this administration and our country have been guilty of. Reminds me of Nazi Germany or worst yet, Stalinst Russia.
Who are the greatest international "war criminals" who have flaunted the most UN resolutions? The answer is obvious: the US and Israel, our abominable creation.
What will they call our generation years from now, if we have anyone left alive to remember?
Even with all this doom and gloom, I always teach everyone ( I teach many things) to remember that we're all in this together; to accept and take care of each other in any way we can, no matter what our differences; to keep out hearts open to both each other and our Higher Power, whatever we conceive that to be.
Keep your minds clear and your hearts strong-- we're in for an interesting and challenging Earth-walk (but that's why we came here now,isn't it?). B.
johnwycliff "I'm beginning to doubt they are even firing rockets at all"
The ZioNazi Air Force patrols the sky over Gaza with jets, planes, helicopters, armed and unarmed drones and satellites, hi & lo orbiting.
All these transmit realtime signals to AWAC's and mir fighter jets of any launch with a consequent pinpointed and instant scorched earth response.
This I think explains why no ZioNazi's are getting hurt in the firestorm they describe. The withering terrorist assault.
Yesterday India launched a 650 lb Polaris satellite for the IDF: The Israeli Death Forces. It can see thru clouds. 80 minutes after launch it was operational.
I think the Nazi's are more threatened by stones than artillery. Boy, if there is Karma, they are in big trouble.
Quote: "kelmer January 23rd, 2008 2:12 pm
...
But the Gaza breach with Egypt shows that israel and the US dont know what they are doing.
It will blow up in their faces."
THAT'S WISHFUL THINKING. There's nothing wrong with it, but it's a [wishful] prediction, only. Gazans going to Egypt (or any other country) does not mean that the situation will explode in the faces of Israel and the U.S.; it'd only do that if these Gazans then militarised and returned to ..., well, maybe to eface Israel from the face of the planet (more wishful thinking) for it's not like it's not deserved.
Otherwise, Palestinians could empty Palestine, departing to go live in other countries, where they'd hopefully and finally get some real and deserved humanitarian aid, leaving what's now remaining of Palestinian territory to hell's pigs (two of them) Israel and the U.S. There'd be nothing at all explosive one way or another for Israel if this is what the Palestinians did.
As for more Palestinians being able to then get their voices heard more broadly and readily, this also wouldn't threaten Israel or the U.S. After all, anyone truly caring about this world and old enough to have read on serious world issues is already aware of the extreme crimes of the U.S. and Israel, as well as supportive Arab state govts, including Egypt I believe, European govts, and the UNSC, against Palestinians. We'd then have more testimonies, and they'd be wholly welcome and educational alright, but they wouldn't provide much for [new] information on the situation in Gaza.
As evil as Israel and the U.S. are, and as known as this is around the world, I don't imagine anything the Palestinians do, or which the Israeli and U.S. govts don't do or ensure, would have any likelihood of blowing up in the faces of Israel and the U.S. WE ALREADY KNOWN en masse about the hellish conduct of the Israeli and U.S. govts.
Am I mistaken about or in that emphasised perspective? I don't know, but don't think to be.
Quote: " karlof1 January 23rd, 2008 2:56 pm
As I told students on 11 Sept 2001, we were counter-attacked for being the ONLY ally of Israel and the ongoing Palestinian Holocaust. It was an act-of-war in retaliation for many acts of war backed/okayed by the USG; it just wasn't the sort of war-act described by Bush. ..."
WE DO NOT KNOW that that is more than just theory; we certainly don't know that it's a theory that's more valid or likely to be true than the INSIDE JOB theory is, though we have very strong cause and enough precedents to believe the latter theory is very true. And they can both be true, or part of the whole truth on the 9-11 attacks.
That the Arab hijackers of the planes crashed into the WTC Towers, etc., may have very well been involved in terms of revenge or retaliation is one thing; but it's strongly unlikely that they and their Arab bosses are really the most guilty party(ies) involved. Inside job is strongly likely, and if it's what really happened, then the Arab hijackers were just expendable stooges or puppets, instruments, for the ruling elites behind these 9-11 attacks, this then new "Pearl Harbor" the Bush administration and GWoT ruling elites needed in order to be able to muster up enough support for war among U.S. voters.
Ever since 9-11, the Bush administration and the govt of Britain have upon numerous enough times claimed "terrorists" here, there, everywhere; liquid-bomb culprits caught in the U.K., the six or seven clowns set up by the FBI in I believe Florida and with the U.S. govt claiming these young Americans (of colour) were going to commit some terrorist strike on the Sears Tower, etc.; those alleged terrorists being all NON-terrorists. There's much false-flag state terrorism propaganda bs in all of this.
We can be certain that 9-11 did not happen as the Bush administration's "official story" tries to get people to believe; but as for the rest, ..., as per above. It's why MANY Americans want the 9-11 investigation re-opened and with some really independent people in charge of the investigation this time around. It's an investigation that really needs to be re-opened and in thorough honesty and competence this time. It's not just a want; it's a need, a must, and really by law, though also in simply moral terms.