Last Thursday Israel Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, ordered the borders between Israel and Gaza locked shut. This was a gut response to the barrage of about 200 rockets and mortars fired at Israel. It seems that Barak did not take in to account the international interest and media coverage that was sure to mount up. On Friday Israeli dailies Ma'ariv and Yedioth Ahronot quoted Israeli officers that Gaza with in days will be in a humanitarian crisis. Those officers whom remained nameless predicted the obvious result. Fuel for the only power station in Gaza that supplies only 30% of Gaza's needs, mainly to Gaza city and the north would last until Sunday at 2000. And indeed the complete closure of the crossings with no fuel, food or medication going through, left the majority of the population in despair and in limbo.
Hamas let the world do its job, proclaiming collective punishment, the International community especially UNRWA, the largest organization in the middle east, threatened that due to the lack of food and nylon bags to pack its wheat in it would cease activities. All the time Hamas orchestrated from behind the scenes. Pictures of the march of candles on Sunday, followed by the freezing children in hospitals were great leaders for the media story. Stories of people suffering due to the harsh inhumane acts of the Israeli government were the subtext that the world nibbled up. Everybody lost interest in the rockets and mortars by Sunday at 2000. Less than 24 hours later the Ministry of Defense declared it would resume flow of fuel and international aid. Since then a trickle of fuel has enabled the power plant to resume its activities, and the International Community have continued to struggle to work. This all led to the obvious on Wednesday evening, the rupturing in a well orchestrated act of blowing up the separation wall on the border between Gaza and Egypt. Now you don't need intelligence to predict such a move. It could actually be a positive on for Israel if it leads to reliving Israel from its occupational obligations. On the other hand, it will definitely open Gaza to those outside influences, i.e. Iran, Syria and Hizbullah, the Israeli defense establishment is so concerned about. While Egypt has said that will seal the border again, it has also pointed out that it will not let Gaza starve, so the prediction for the near future is that the border will be open a couple of times a week to enable the Palestinians of Gaza to get their breath of fresh air. Welcome to the new Gaza pressure valve, no longer any need for tunnels.
The Secretary General on the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, in a press briefing called on cessation of violence. "What I would like to urge to the parties concerned [is], first of all, first and foremost, they should try to resolve all the issues, all the political issues, however complex, however difficult they may be, to resolve in a peaceful means, through dialogue". HA! Dialogue.
Hamas let the world do its job, proclaiming collective punishment, the International community especially UNRWA, the largest organization in the middle east, threatened that due to the lack of food and nylon bags to pack its wheat in it would cease activities. All the time Hamas orchestrated from behind the scenes. Pictures of the march of candles on Sunday, followed by the freezing children in hospitals were great leaders for the media story. Stories of people suffering due to the harsh inhumane acts of the Israeli government were the subtext that the world nibbled up. Everybody lost interest in the rockets and mortars by Sunday at 2000. Less than 24 hours later the Ministry of Defense declared it would resume flow of fuel and international aid. Since then a trickle of fuel has enabled the power plant to resume its activities, and the International Community have continued to struggle to work. This all led to the obvious on Wednesday evening, the rupturing in a well orchestrated act of blowing up the separation wall on the border between Gaza and Egypt. Now you don't need intelligence to predict such a move. It could actually be a positive on for Israel if it leads to reliving Israel from its occupational obligations. On the other hand, it will definitely open Gaza to those outside influences, i.e. Iran, Syria and Hizbullah, the Israeli defense establishment is so concerned about. While Egypt has said that will seal the border again, it has also pointed out that it will not let Gaza starve, so the prediction for the near future is that the border will be open a couple of times a week to enable the Palestinians of Gaza to get their breath of fresh air. Welcome to the new Gaza pressure valve, no longer any need for tunnels.
The Secretary General on the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, in a press briefing called on cessation of violence. "What I would like to urge to the parties concerned [is], first of all, first and foremost, they should try to resolve all the issues, all the political issues, however complex, however difficult they may be, to resolve in a peaceful means, through dialogue". HA! Dialogue.
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