More than 1000 casualties in 24 hours. And what does the world say?
"These people are nothing but thugs, so Israel is going to defend its people against terrorists like Hamas that indiscriminately kill their own people,"White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe
“Clearly, we are calling on Hamas and other militants to cease shelling southern Israel.”Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard
“Whilst we understand the Israeli government's obligation to protect its population we urge maximum restraint to avoid further civilian casualties.
"We also call on militants in the Gaza Strip to immediately cease all rocket attacks on Israel."
British Foreign Office Statement
Yes, no one can say that Hamas are angels. They are not. But doesn’t it sound absurd that while F-16s and Apaches are bombing Gaza and while tanks are taking position around the strip, the calls are coming out to Hamas to stop the violence?
But surrealism, as stark contrast between elements, can only be strengthened by a third element in our case. What adds to this surrealism for me is not to be found in the world reaction, not the Arab reaction, but the reaction of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. A small march goes out in Central Ramallah, and it appeared to be infested with agents of the Intelligence apparatus. It was disgusting to see that Hamas supporters were being arrested in the heart of Ramallah, by Palestinians. What added to the sadness is the sight of a line of riot police that blocked the road to the Muqata’a (the presidential compound). If we are to treat a peaceful demonstration in such a manner that calls for the use of riot police then what should we expect from others?
It might not be easy for me to list my expectations. After all, who is capable of doing what? Everyone is wrong, no one is doing the right thing, but things have entered into a spiral of wrongs and blames that it is now impossible to say that one thing can stop everything. This is why my thought goes back to the root of the problem, at least its root on our side of the game.
The bottom line of my analysis is that we do not have sincere leaders. No one is genuinely interested in the best interest of the Palestinian people, not even the Palestinian leaders themselves. On the one hand, the PA cannot be expected to come out strongly against military action that can potential restore power in the strip to them. Nor are the Hamas leaders expected to leave their throne after the finally got there. Nor are we, as a people, intelligent enough to stand up against this catastrophic leadership and create a new one that represent us. It looks so gloomy.
6 comments:
it's just the beginning.
Did you vote for Hamas? Are you aware that Hamas is committed to Israel's destruction and that its charter call for the murder of Jews everywhere?
End the illegal Arab occupation of Gaza! The Land of Israel is Jewish!
It is ironic. First because it was Israel who pushed all these people into Gaza Back in 1948, and second because these people actually lived in areas now called Israel, such as Ashkelon and Beer Sheva among others. I don't understand where you get your information, but this land wasn't jewish. Yes, Jews lived here a couple of thousand years ago but since then and before, generation after generations of people have continued to live here...
Hi Ned,
Welcome back after a long hiatus. You were missed!
I couldn't agree more with your analysis. The biggest tragedy of the Palestinian people is that their own leaders have let them down, and continue to do so.
The future seems bleak but I will continue to hold out hope for you...
Hey Ned,
My name is Kelsey – I’m a student at the University of Vermont in the United States and have been reading your blog with interest. You write with a passion that is infectious, and I feel decidedly more aware on the issues of Palestine than I did prior to reading this. As an American, I have to confess to an almost clichéd weakness, that being my ignorance of politics and of global events, despite my interest in them. Having your writing as a starting point is especially helpful, and it is embarrassing to me that the representative from my country said what he did about thugs. This semester, I am enrolled in a class on gender in the Middle East, and your blog fascinated me because it deals with politics in Palestine. Palestine almost seems removed to me, a separate entity from the rest of the Middle East – this is most likely a product of the stereotypes that exist in American society. I was hoping you could shed some light on men and women’s role in the Palestinian conflict, medically, militarily, and politically. Do women play a role in politics? Are they allowed to serve in the military in any capacity? Are they ever targets themselves? I have a fascination with womens roles in this, and figure one of the best recourse to educate myself on this topic is to ask questions of someone who lives there. Thank you so much for voicing your thoughts. Take care and stay safe,
-Kelsey
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