The Israeli NGO Gisha released the following report yesterday:
Two Years of Gaza Closure by the Numbers
June 2007- June 2009: Crossings Closed; Supplies Restricted
- Percentage of goods permitted to enter Gaza, relative to demand: 25% (approximately 2,500 truckloads/month instead of 10,400/month prior to June 2007).
- Supplies of industrial diesel permitted to enter Gaza, relative to need: 63% (2.2 million liters/week rather than the 3.5 million liters/week needed to generate electricity).
- Average length of power outages in Gaza: five hours per day.
- Current number of people without access to running water in Gaza: 28,000.
Compare and Contrast:
Number of food items Israel's Cabinet Resolution promised to permit to enter Gaza: Unlimited.
Number of food items actually permitted into Gaza: 18.
Amount of money pledged for reconstruction aid at the March 2009 Donors Conference: $4.5 billion.
Quantity of building materials permitted to enter Gaza: Zero.
Unemployment rate in Gaza in 2007, the year the closure was imposed: 30%.
Unemployment ratein Gaza in 2008: 40%.
No development, no prosperity, only "minimum humanitarian" items allowed:
- The Israeli military permits margarine in individual packets to enter Gaza, but margarine in buckets is banned, because it could be used for industry (i.e. by factories producing food and providing jobs).
- The Israeli government clarified that its March 22, 2009 Cabinet decision authorizing the "unrestricted" supply of food into Gaza "has been given a restrictive interpretation" and that the government "did not intend to remove the restrictions, which were imposed in the past, on the entrance of food and supplies into Gaza". Translation: Food supply continues to be restricted.
- Among the food items banned from entering Gaza: Halva, tea, juice powder.
- Among the nonfood items banned from entering Gaza: soccer balls (footballs), guitars, paper, ink.
People trapped:
Number of days Rafah Crossing has been open for regular traffic: Zero.
Number of people unable to travel through Rafah each month: 39,000.
Criteria for passage through Erez Crossing: exceptional humanitarian cases.
Gaza Rebuilds With Mud By Donald Macintyre Monday, 8 June 2009 Independent, UK http://snipurl.com/jqxav
the usa and europe are complicit with israel in this man-made catastrophe. all the while these countries pat themselves on the back while spouting phony platitudes about morality, democracy, and security. manipulated oversympathy for israel's past victim status clouds only the judgment of those who choose not to see or pretend not to see that the murdered have become the murderers.
Its not as staggering as I imagined. The unemployment numbers are the worst. The number of people without access to fresh water, is better than in many developing countries, MANY times better than in most of Africa for example.
The government of Gaza, Hamas, is in violation of Geneva Convention regulations with its kidnapping and holding to ransom of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Some of the restrictions listed in your report are dependent on Hamas releasing Gilad Shalit or at least providing minimum humanitarian rights. So far, Hamas has refused to allow the Red Cross to visit Gilad Shalit or to even confirm to his family if he is alive or not.
Yes, indeed, your US taxpayer dollars at work, funding an apartheid unlike any the modern world has seen. Way beyond South Africa, my friends. How can the US Congress possibly sleep at night, knowing they've been corrupted by AIPAC to subsidize this crime against humanity to the tune of $3 billion a year. Yeah, right, our "special relationship" means that the interests of Israel and the U.S. are identical. Watching Max Blumenthal's "Feeling the Hate" video, I don't think any sane person could agree with that canard any longer.
How does banning soccer balls (footballs), guitars, paper, ink aid Israeli security?
Obama hits the Wailing Wall: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=326...
Have you folks seen this? Standing up to the Thought Police Academic Freedom at the U of C 06.08.2009 | ZNet By William Robinson Remarks for Seventh Annual International Al-Awda Convention, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition Garden grove, California 23 May 2009, Academic freedom is under attack at the University of California. I am under investigation by the university – and I face possible sanctions – because of my vocal condemnation of the nearly one-month long Israeli invasion of Gaza that began last December. This campaign against academic freedom is not just an attempt to punish me. Much more importantly, it aims to create an environment of fear and intimidation in which any criticism on Israeli policy is subject to sanctions and censorship. But silence in the face of social injustice is complicity in that injustice Last January 19 was the birth date of Martin Luther King, Jr. We had already been following, with growing horror, the one month siege of Gaza — the destruction of mosques, schools, hospitals, united nations supply centers, food warehouses, the demolition of civilian infrastructure, the blatant targeting of civilians, including the use of white phosphorous against them. That morning i listed to some of the speeches delivered by king shortly before his death. These included his famous condemnation of the U.S. war against Vietnam. In that speech he explained that some people had warned him, if he spoke out against the war, he would risk losing the support of some sectors of the civil rights coalition. http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/standing-up-to-t...
Much as I respect your reasons for not taking a position on one or two states, it just won't wash anymore. When the Israeli state is supported by the Jewish Diaspora, either overtly or through non-involvement, then neutrality shouldn't be the default position of liberals. __When young Jews ask why what is being done to Palestinians doesn't constitute genocide, or how Israel isn't to be considered an apartheid state, then we need to debate that honestly, and ask how their 'elders' ( I refer to the hippie activists of yore:) could oppose the Vietnam War but not Gaza, and apartheid South Africa but not Israel.__And, given the essential inequality in strengths I don't think we need to let the issue be resolved by the two parties alone, but a solution must be imposed by the organisation that created the problem in the first place, the UN, and, given the corruption of political and social dialogue by the Zionist experiment, I for one have no problem with calling Zionism for what it is, blatant European volk racism, and that it should be treated and addressed accordingly.
While I am strongly critical of Israel's siege of Gaza I haven't read any explanation why Gaza cannot receive its staples from Egypt through Sinai.
I'm just waiting for Richard Witty to show up and tell us that Zionism is a GOOD ideology and that it is the Palestinians' (and leftist "either/or" crowd's) own fault that non-fascist, non-racist, non-criminal Israel is forced to suffocate any breath of economic/industrial life in the Occupied Territories. But alas, he usually makes himself scarce in threads where his apologist routine would appear as blatantly and totally absurd as it is.
June 2007 you say? Why June 2007? Did something happen in June 2007 to cause a change in the Israelis' position toward the Palestinians or something? Hint: "Doctor, it hurts when the victims of the terrorists I elected fight back" "Well, don't elect terrorists". The Palestinians have the right to elect whomever they want, but the right to elect a party does not mean you don't have to live with the consequences. The Palestinians elected a party whose open and stated goal was picking a fight with Israel. The U.S. government knew what would happen if Hamas got elected (terrorism from Hamas, retaliation from Israel). The Israelis knew. Heck I knew and I'm just an American who reads about current events. So either the Palestinians were incredibly naive in not seeing this coming, or they knew it would happen and elected Hamas anyway. I have no sympathy for people who voted for the "war with Israel" party, and are now whining about how Israel is "oppressing" them. Here is a tip for all you Palestinians out there, when you attack a stronger country, they are going to do unpleasant things back. How do you not get that after 61 years of attacking Israel and ending up worse off as a result every time?
What evil reside in a human being who's job is to make a list of items permited or not permited to enter Gaza.The whole plan is basically to do what The usa did to Iraq for 17 years.The news about the health,and well being of the Gaza children and the whole population is sad to say the least.The Gazan's blood will be on Israel ,American,And the Arab,jarab rejimes hands for generations to come.We won't forget,nor foregive.
Except in the case of the Palestinians, their water is being/has been stolen from them by the Israelis and for this reason is entirely preventable. The fact that they have less water than is considered necessary for good health specifically because it is being stolen from them by a belligerent occupier, while the citizens of the occupying country use the water they steal for swimming pools and to water lawns, is further evidence of the racist attitudes of the government (and the majority of people) in Israel. The fact that you would consider this ok, also speaks volumes about your own attitudes about people who are different from you.
Check out George Galloway and Co's new convoy going to the Gaza http://www.vivapalestina-us.org/ Fresh from the success of the Viva Palestina: Lifeline from Britain to Gaza aid convoy – which took over 100 vehicles to Gaza from the UK, Member of Parliament, George Galloway has linked up on his US tour with the Vietnam veteran and peace campaigner, Ron Kovic, to launch a similar, but even larger venture from the States. Galloway announced the initiative at a 1000-strong meeting in Anaheim, South California, rounding off a packed-out, coast to coast speaking tour highlighting the Palestinian cause. “There’s a new atmosphere in the US over Palestine,” says Galloway, “the phenomenal response to this tour demonstrates that.” Ron Kovic, whose story was immortalized in Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July, will be the co-leader of the convoy, which will travel from New York City to Egypt before making its way across the Rafah border into Gaza. Viva Palestina: The USA Convoy to Gaza is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, but individuals and groups from across the nation are organizing locally to generate support for the convoy, which aims to raise 500 vehicles and $10 million of humanitarian aid. “And what better day to head off,” says Galloway, “Than July 4 – Independence Day!”
The government of Israel does not recognize the Geneva Conventions in any respect for themselves so it would be appreciated if you would not make this argument. Also, please note that Gilad Shalit's parents have tried to raise their objections to the use of their son for purposes of making war on Gaza.
Look how dishonest Thom is. 61 years of attack Israel! Poor Israel. Wait, how many Israeli civilians does the Palestinian resistance kill? How many Palestinian civilians does the Israeli government kill? Who is occupying who? Who is treated like a second-class citizen? Who is discriminated against? Who is supported by the world's only superpower? Who is the 4th strongest military in the world? Etc. No one but the Zionists accept that all of Israel's wars were wars of defense. That poor little Israel was being threatened with another Holocaust.
Your oversimplification of the circumstances surrounding the 2006 Palestinian legislative election shows you should "read about current events" a little bit more. Hamas doesn't begin and end with the al Qassam Brigades nor with their ongoing war with Israel. In fact, every analyst worth his or her salt inside Palestine and Israel, and those reporting from the West knew that Hamas' routing of Fatah was due entirely to two main factors: rampant corruption in the PA, specifically Fatah, and Hamas' well-documented charity and social/public work. Palestinians, just like everyone else in the world who live under some form of a democracy, want to be led by people who will better the conditions of their lives, and Fatah was not making the grade. Of course, it's hard to do that when working under an insidious and savage occupation…
Jake is reiterating that old Zionist saw, "One Israeli is worth XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ad infinitum arabs."
About your info: "Current number of people without access to running water in Gaza: 28,000." According a World Bank report: "In late February 2009, 150,000 people were still cut off from network supply, and in three areas (Sheja’yaa, Zaitoun, and Tal Elhawa) damaged infrastructure had led to contamination of drinking water supply by sewage [1]. The continued closure, now preventing the import of pipes and other materials needed to rehabilitate destroyed water supply and sanitation systems, is therefore worsening negative impacts on Gaza’s population and water institutions. It is noted that materials requested to repair damages due to the recent military offensive on Gaza are of the same type as needed for more than 18 months which have not been cleared by Israel. [1] Communication from World Bank staff based in Gaza, February 19, 2009 In: WEST BANK AND GAZA – ASSESSMENT OF RESTRICTIONS ON PALESTINIAN WATER SECTOR DEVELOPMENT, April 2009, The World Bank (http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTWESTBANKGAZ... I think the figure 28,000 are referred to people who are not linked in 2005 at water network supply. Shalom, Salamaat.
It’s amazing Jake. Kidnapping? The young soldier Shalit was captured in the course of an action of war. I agree with you about the Geneve Convention but for me is applicable to all situations. How many Palestinians prisoners has Israel? About 11,000. How many of them are Palestinian children: 346, including one in administrative detainee. In: The Humanitarian Monitor, OCHA, May 2009. How many Palestinians are trapped in Gaza since June 2007? More than 1,500,000. Enough is enough!