Ants in Gaza

[Skybird]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...570463,00.html

The two unconnected parts of a future Palestine are drifting apart like separating continental plates. Meanwhile, the new masters of Gaza are continually expanding their control over the narrow Mediterranean coastal strip, and their most important helpers are the tunnel people of Rafah.

According to the Israeli domestic intelligence agency, 175 tons of explosives have been smuggled into the region since June 2007, along with 10 million rounds of ammunition, tens of thousands of machine guns, grenades, land mines and precision-guided missiles. The Islamists are now believed to have turned to smuggling weapons through their own cement-reinforced tunnels, which now include ventilation systems and a water supply. But more than weapons are passing through these tunnels.
(...)
At the height of the embargo, prices quadrupled and, for a time, cement in Gaza cost 10 times as much as it did in Egypt. But now the cease-fire of June 19 has thwarted the smugglers' plans. For the past few weeks, about 90 trucks have been allowed to pass through the Israeli border crossings every day. Though only a fraction of the 400 trucks that made it through daily before the embargo, it was enough to cause prices to go down immediately in Rafah. Two weeks ago, a few dealers fired a homemade rocket in the direction of the Israeli city of Sderot, hoping that it would prompt the government in Jerusalem to seal off the borders again. "The ceasefire may be good for the people of Gaza, but not for us," says Abu Yakub.

[jpm1]

very interesting . i have a question are the palestinians able to do their shopping in Egypt or Israel ?

[baggygreen]

Originally Posted by Mikhayl

No, the people in Gaza are sort of "locked", thanks to the kind of scumbags pictured in the article.

I was a bit worried there and had to check and make sure that it wasnt an israeli you were referring to!!

If the article is true and they're going so far as to launch weapons to try make the Israelis seal the border again, well doesnt that go to say a lot about these people, if we can call them that. They're not interested in the wellbeing of their people at all, their sole interest is in causing as much suffering for as many people as possible, regardless of race or politics. Real sadists.

[bookworm_020]

Sounds like if Israel realy wanted to stop this it could. By just increasing the amount of cross border traffic would cripple Hamas's revenue stream. The ones I feel sorry for are the poor people who have to pay through the nose for the basics, while the ones in charge get fat on the profits!

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by bookworm_020

Sounds like if Israel realy wanted to stop this it could. By just increasing the amount of cross border traffic would cripple Hamas's revenue stream. The ones I feel sorry for are the poor people who have to pay through the nose for the basics, while the ones in charge get fat on the profits!

It were suffiently many of these people who allowed, helped, assisted and voted for Hamas to come to power. Okay, so then let'S play democracy. In a democracy, voters and supporters are responsible for the votes and supports they give.

Even if their choice turned out to be a bad one.

[jpm1]

Originally Posted by Skybird

It were suffiently many of these people who allowed, helped, assisted and voted for Hamas to come to power. Okay, so then let'S play democracy. In a democracy, voters and supporters are responsible for the votes and supports they give.

Even if their choice turned out to be a bad one.

the first condition for the world Democracy to be use it's that there's a country somewhere , can you see a Palestine country me no
if you vote for the good and you still receive bombs on your head whatever you do after years of suffering you are obviously tempted to vote for the other candidate not because you like him but you just want to stop your pain . some of the most important politics of the planet critizised the israelian methods , yes Israel receive rockets yes they have to protect their people but the problem is that when Israel drops a bomb most of the time if it hits an armed militant it also hits ten civilians including kids . History has shown that sometimes when peoples turn themselves to some bad leaders it's not necessarily a choice but rather because they have to fight an injustice and they simply don't have better thing at hand

[Skybird]

the term "democracy" refers to an ideological politcal conception that must not nessecarily be linked and based upon the concept of a national state.

[jpm1]

it's always easier to opt for the right judgement when you aren't oppressed ..

[Skybird]

Voting for an alleged lesser evil does not make it less evil. I hold them accountable for what they vote in the future, what they voted for last time, and what they have voted for before.

The issue with the palestinians could ujhave been solved many many years ago, if only they would have wanted. they even could have outcharmed the Israelis lionger time ago, leaving Israel no other chance than to accept a peace deal that way. But no... Well, they now see were it got them.

Not even the Arab neighbours like them, and not just since their attempt to overthrow Jordan. I have been in several ME countries, but the Palestinians were not liked and/or trusted anywhere. The majority of Arab states have arranged themselves with Israel since they understood that Israels existence is no thread to their governments if they leave Israeol alone. They even hold still when Israel reaches out against the Palestinians, since they know that this serves their interest because Israel delivers blows to the threat for themselves that way - Iran, and Shia Islam which is hostile to the Sunni establishement dominated by the house of Saud.