By Lew Waters
In an effort to end the rocket attacks upon Israeli citizens all border crossings were sealed leading into Gaza last week, cutting off the flow of vital supplies needed by those living in the besieged territory.
In spite of renewed Peace Talks, rockets have rained down on Israeli Border Towns, leading the Israeli government to temporarily seal off all of the border crossings with Gaza and eliciting warnings from the United Nations that the closure would lead to increased hardship for the "impoverished Palestinian Arabs" living in the territory.
Exacerbating the tensions, Israeli PM Olmert called the attacks emanating from Gaza "war," leading Palestinian PM Abbas to threaten to quit the newly restarted peace talks and possibly even to resign his post.
It was said that more than 100 rockets a day have been raining down from Gaza as various armed Palestinian groups terrorize Israel's population in a widening region along the border, some as far away as Ashkelon and Ashdod. In response, Israel sealed off the border crossings, which cut off the needed supplies to citizens in Gaza.
Hamas threatened more suicide attacks if the "sanctions" continued according to Hamad al-Rukeb, Hamas Spokesman. "If the bloodshed in Gaza and the West Bank does not stop, there will be similar bloodshed in ... Tel Aviv," he released in a statement.
Bowing to International outrage and condemnation, Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak ordered the temporary renewal of deliveries of medicine and small amounts of fuel for an electric power station in Gaza on January 22. A U.N. welfare agency said that if the Israeli blockade did not end, food deliveries to Gaza's needy would cease.
Israel reported that since the border crossings were sealed late last week, there has been a marked reduction in the number of Kassam rockets launched from Gaza into Israel. Mr. Barak added that, "unless Israeli southern towns enjoy 'quiet,' Gaza will suffer from more 'noise.'"
America's Ambassador to the U.N., Zalmay Khalilzad, stressed Israel's right of self-defense while another diplomat said that anyone who thinks Israel should be blamed for the escalation surrounding Gaza is living in a "parallel universe."
Reeling from the scarcity of goods caused by the Israeli blockades, masked Palestinian gunmen using land mines blasted down a seven-mile barrier today, allowing Tens of Thousands To Flee Gaza for Egypt.
On foot and pushing donkey carts, they poured into Egypt "carrying goats, chickens, and crates of Coca-Cola," stocking up on goods made scarce by last weeks border closings.
One Palestinian, Abu Taha said, "We want to buy food. We want to buy rice and sugar, milk and wheat and some cheese."
Saying how border guards originally had forced the Gazans back, Egyptian President Mubarak said, "a great number of them came back because the Palestinians in Gaza are starving due to the Israeli siege."
Mubarak added, "I told them to let them come in and eat and buy food and then return them later as long as they were not carrying weapons."
Although no starvation has actually been reported in Gaza, it is claimed that many of the 1.5 million residents have faced critical shortages of electricity, fuel, and other supplies over months since Hamas seized control of the territory.
After Israeli officials expressed concern over weapons being brought back into Gaza from Egypt, an off-duty Hamas policeman identified only as Abdel Rahman saying how it wasn't necessary to bring weapons back from Egypt said, "You can buy weapons in Gaza, guns and RPGs, they are easier to find than Coca-Cola."
In a show of their desperation and need to care for their families in Gaza, by blowing up a 7 mile stretch of the border fence and so many "fleeing into Egypt" for such essentials of life, it was reported that some brought back televisions, car tires, and cigarettes, one even bringing back a motorcycle.
If, as President Mubarak says, this act was because they are starving, why did they carry food stocks, the goats and chickens, over to Egypt to trade?
Sometimes, articles meant to tug at our heartstrings and demonize Israeli efforts to defend themselves reveal a small element of truth.
Lew |