On September 13th, the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the Israeli government closed the border crossing to the besieged Gaza Strip, exacerbating existing fuel shortages into a full-on crisis. Since then, cars have been lined up around city blocks to obtain small amounts of fuel – only enough for a day of work.
With unemployment in Gaza at a staggering 60%, many of the taxi drivers are men who took the job as a last resort and means of survival. But the fuel crisis has taken away taxi driving and frustration is high.
It’s absolutely unbelievable that America doesn’t object to this horrific siege and ongoing miserable situation.
No matter what anyone says, Gaza is fully occupied and strangled by Israel 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year X decades.
Thanks, Dan.
It’s absolutely unbelievable that America doesn’t impose a per-visit fuel limit at all gas stations for at least one day a year. In addition to providing Americans a brief and sorely needed lesson in resource limits, it would provide an opportunity for a day of some male bonding and street-theatrical bonhomie, especially if women were required to stay home for the day.
No matter what anyone says, Gaza has an abundance of cars less than ten years old and at least one commercial area showing: no damage from the 2014 summer war; a women’s dress shop containing a nice display window; a gas station decoratively painted in a most charming manner; and a good number of seemingly well fed, neatly dressed and able-bodied men.
These men might be more productive if they had a government that was less militancy oriented and more development oriented, which might emerge if the present government were inclined to having the legitimacy of their mandate tested via open electoral competition with other voices. A rejuvenation of the political environment might contribute to Egypt reviewing its policy of keeping the border closed the better part of 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year for the last decade.
Thanks, Dan.