Perhaps most telling is Tom Gross’s observation that Gaza scores higher on some major economic indicators than Turkey – the country that sent the “Freedom Flotilla” allegedly to “break the blockade” and relieve Gaza’s “crisis.”
In addition, both articles indicate that in Gaza, wealth is staying at the top – as is true throughout the Arab Middle East and the Third World in general. Money concentrated in the hands of foreign aid workers, shady operators, and the government – which builds flashy facilities that are of dubious benefit to the wider population – is an all-too-familiar picture. The economy minister who says that “The sons of Hamas were prevented in the past from working and participating, but today there are opportunities for them” – is being almost disarmingly candid about it.
That is by no means to suggest that, if Hamas is in some ways adopting the typical profile of a corrupt patronage network, it has become less serious about its Islamist, kill-Israel ideology. It does, however, suggest that whatever the actual impact of the Israeli-Egyptian blockade while it lasted, the problem with Gaza’s economy is much more structural and will continue as long as Gaza stays mired in authoritarian practices.
None of this stopped President Obama, in the aftermath of the flotilla incident, from pledging a further $400 million in aid to the West Bank and Gaza – continuing an ostensible Western largess that is particularly blind and feckless. In Gaza, strengthening the ruling class – despite whatever rosier intentions – means strengthening Hamas terror. What this entails was evident, for instance, when one of Hamas’s Grad rockets hit the Israeli town of Ashkelon on Friday morning.
Aren't rocket attacks the prelude to "peace talks"???? T
Never again territory for peace.
Israel pulled out of Gaza fully and completely three years ago. Since then an armed conflict, begun by Hamas-controlled Gaza, continues. Arms have been smuggled into Gaza through tunnels and by sea, and Israel's response of a blockade is proper. Blockades, under international law, are acceptable as a deterrent to such smuggling, and include civilian as well as enemy ships. Criteria as specified by international law for conducting such actions have been followed by Israel. Israel has offered the use of land routes to import the materials, but the Free Gaza group has declined. As to the popularity of Hamas : http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2010/06/h…
Hamas : No peace with Israel!
The situation as it stands cannot be settled through any form of negotiation, as Hamas has made it clear that under no circumstances will it accept any form of permanent peace agreement, only temporary truces. The world is no longer demanding that Israel negotiate with terrorists, as it had in the past with the PLO. Instead it is demanding that Israel stop interfering with the terrorists. Not because this will bring peace through negotiations, but because they have accepted the national claims of Hamas, a genocidal Islamist terrorist organization. This is obviously an unsustainable and unacceptable demand. As to Israel: http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2010/06/g…
From memory I Dont Think Hamas "seized" power . .they were elected, by an overwhelming majority I seem to recall, and the take over came about through Fatah' s Mohameed Dahlan's men, backed by the white house and the cia and probably Israel trying to oust hamas from power.
I believe you are right. Furthermore, Hamas' popularity amongst the people was largely driven by the perception that Hamas was an incorruptible religious movement; a grassroots, egalitarian, charitable movement that did not hold itself above the people like corrupt Fatah leaders and officials do. According to this piece, Hamas is now little different from Fatah in terms of its corrupt practices.
Wow! Blaming the CIA, the White House, and Israel for Gaza being ruled by murderous genocidal cowards. That takes the cake, for sure. In fact Hamas murdered so many Fatah candidates and voters that anyone who didn't vote Hamas risked the death of his family. Hamas is an abomination of the political world, fueled by Islamists and their hatred of any non-Moslem.
Speaking as a Brit I am ashamed and enraged by Cormorants blatant anti-semitic attack on Israel. This cretinous moron knows nothing about the situation facing Israel and has given succour to HAMAS that is a terrorist organisation. As to the Gazans, well the old saying that you get the government you deserve seems apt. A lot of Brits are now coming to realise just what a bloody mess this government is getting us further into. Cormorant and Cligg are two sides of the same coin the treacherous bastards.
Here here!
The Palestinians are an Islamic subculture used as proxy terrorists by Iran and the Arab Muslim states that strap munitions on their own women and children and send them out on homicide-suicide mission to murder other innocent wome and children in supermarkets, restuarants, and even on school buses. It the EU's and America's shame that there is one ounce of legitimacy given to these migrant workers and the descendants who are either terrorists themselves or support the jihadists.
We just spent $20,000,000 to move members/supporters of Hamas, a terrorist organization, to the United States ; housing, food, the whole enchilada. HB 1388 PASSED! Whether you are an Obama fan, or not, EVERYONE IN THE U.S. needs to know. Something happened… H.B. 1388 was passed, behind our backs. You may want to read about it… It wasn't mentioned on the news. Obama funds $20M in tax payer dollars to immigrate Hamas Refugees to the USA. This is the news that didn't make the headlines. By executive order, President Barack Obama has ordered the expenditure of $20.3 million in "migration assistance" to the Palestinian refugees and "conflict victims" in Gaza. The "presidential determination," which allows hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with ties to Hamas to resettle in the United States, was signed and appears in the Federal Register. Now we learn that he is allowing thousands of Palestinian refuges to move to, and live in, the US at American taxpayer expense. Doubtful? To verify this for yourself: http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2009-02-04-E9-248 8http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2009-02-04-E9-2488