THE ISRAEL/GAZA DEBACLE

They Are Not Our Children

The Israel/Gaza debacle. I have the solution but only for one year.

Read on.

Sympathy of the world would, no doubt, be with a country that is constantly attacked by rockets, and the phrase is ‘unprovoked attacks’. But what kind of provoking is called for when the attacker in question is imprisoned in his country?

Gazan lives are completely controlled by Israel.

The Gaza strip is an area of 365 sq. km (141 sq. mi). It supports 1.82 million Palestinians whose lives are completely controlled by the Israelis. Gaza is locked in the south by Egypt. And the rest of the country, North and East is controlled by Israel, and bordered by a 3 km buffer zone. The 42 km long waterfront too is under Israeli control, no fishing and no shipping allowed, and recently children playing on the beach were killed by Israeli attacks.

Anything you can do we can do better is Israel’s policy and they can too. Hamas’s home-grown rockets and Palestinian boys’ sticks and stones against a Goliath. Israel fire power helped by US technologically advanced power of fighter jets, bombers, and tanks is no match for a defenseless Gaza.

Israel has accused Hamas of hiding weaponry in homes, schools, and mosques. Israel say their attacks are are pinpointed and target military installations, weapons cache and terrorists in Gaza. How is anyone able to pinpoint anything in a confined overcrowded place without killing and wounding civilians? There is nowhere for the civilians to escape to.

The most recent pinpoint has been a UN-run school, a place where civilians were sheltering. An attack was carried out even though the UN authorities had given the exact co-ordinates to Israeli authorities. More than 15 killed and 200 injured in this safe haven.

‘Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (Unrwa), also said the Israeli army had been formally given the co-ordinates of the shelter in Beit Hanoun.’ BBC.

And pin-pointed it is too when Flechette shells are used. These are illegal under international law and are not to be fired at civilians.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/20/israel-using-flechette-shells-in-gaza

Flachette Shell Darts

This image provided by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights of darts from a flechette shell it says the Israeli military fired in Gaza last week.

‘The shells release thousands of 37.5mm metal darts that embed mini arrow in the body. Does Israel care for international law or common humanity?’

Come to the negotiating table but with no preconditions. Why would this be possible? Why would the Gazans want to continue to be blocked and live as they do, imprisoned in their own country?

The United States seems ready to step in and help resolve the problem each time there is a flare up. But U.S. shows no balance.

Good to hear the US has promised a $47 million aid to the Palestinians.

US aid to Israel amounts to billions. (US$130 million per year on going) Israel has been the largest annual recipient of U.S. foreign assistance for some time and much of this aid goes to help develop Israeli military power. Since 1976, millions have been given to develop their anti-missile system. U.S is the chief supplier of arms and military technology to Israel. Through the Excess Defense Article Israel also receives free rifles, grenade launchers and machines guns.

And all this to be used against whom?

The world watches this unbalanced debacle – the Palestinians imprisoned and killed and wounded in their own country for choosing to their own government and to live as they want.

I have a solution.

Role reversal. Let the 2million Israelis move into Gaza for a year under the same conditions that exist now, let them enjoy the restrictions. And the Gazans move into the border regions in Israel and enjoy what the Israelis have: freedom of movement, and basic necessities like medical attention, good water supply, constant electricity, fresh food.

And the Israelis in Gaza please don’t send off any rockets, for this is what you have been asking Gaza not to do.