From Newsgroup: talk.politics.mideast

On Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:04:28 -0700 (PDT), dsharavi
<dsharavii@hotmail.com> wrote:

Gaza smuggling: dangers and double standards
Paul Kujawsky
March 23, 2009 11:59 AM

Israel is criticized for tightly controlling Gaza’s borders,
supervising what goes in and out. Critics assert that this control
negates Israel’s claim that it no longer “occupies” Gaza, even though
it forcibly removed all Israeli citizens from the area in 2005.

A recent story puts matters in perspective: Egypt intercepted 560
sheep, construction materials and 110 pounds of explosives headed for
Gaza through the smuggling tunnels.

First, while the sheep give a light and humorous touch to the story,
the matter is actually grimly serious. The rocketing of Israel from
Gaza has never ended. Hamas official Ahmed Yusuf recently praised the >terrorists: “They are heroes because they defend the Palestinian
people. We live under occupation and we have a legitimate right to
defend ourselves. With only negotiations you will achieve nothing … If
you don't keep your hands on the gun nobody will respect you.” Keeping >explosives out of Gaza is necessary as long as Gazans assert the right
to fire rockets at Israel. Because of Yusuf and others like him,
Israel must maintain a blockade on Gaza.

Second, Gaza shares a frontier with Egypt as well as with Israel.
Egypt also keeps a lid on Gaza smuggling (albeit not very
effectively). Yet censure of the blockade is almost entirely directed
at Israel. Criticizing only one of two responsible parties reveals a
double standard. A consistent double standard regarding Israel is a
form of anti-Semitism.

To the people of Gaza: the resolution of the problem lies in your
hands, and has for a long time. Don’t elect gangs dedicated to the >destruction of Israel; stop firing rockets intended to terrorize and
murder Jews; devote your energies to building up your own society,
instead of trying to tear down your neighbor’s—and in the blink of an
eye the blockade would end.

If “land for peace” is the formula, Gazans already have the land. Now, >whether or not there will be peace—for them as well as for Israel—is
up to them.

Paul Kujawsky’s parents once were Communists, which tends to prove
that insanity is not hereditary. Paul is an attorney and longtime
political activist who examines Middle Eastern issues from a liberal >perspective. Contact him at kujawsky@pacbell.net.

http://www.examiner.com/x-4814-LA-Middle-Eastern-Policy-Examiner~y2009m3d23-Gaza-smuggling-dangers-and-double-standards

-------------------

Deborah

Stupid cunt.
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