From Salon -- June 4, 2010:
Aid is not always welcome in Gaza
Hamas resists "blood stained" goods from flotilla while supporters of other parties lament unfair distribution
BY ULRIKE PUTZ
This article originally appeared in Der Spiegel.
The aid shipment that the Palestinian activists' flotilla was hoping to bring to Gaza before they were halted by Israeli commandos is now awaiting delivery. But Hamas will only let the badly needed goods into the territory under certain conditions. In the Gaza Strip, aid is not always greeted with enthusiasm.
Having built a three-storey house in Jabalia, north of Gaza City, Zaed Khadar used to be a proud homeowner. He ran a supermarket from the ground floor and made enough profit there to provide for his seven children. His wife bred chickens on the roof. Then came the Gaza War, a three-week conflict between December 2008 and January 2009, and suddenly Khadar's life was in ruins. His neighborhood, his house and his business were all destroyed. Since then, the 46-year-old has been helpless in every sense of the word. Donations coming to the Gaza Strip from both large and small aid organizations never arrive at the Khadars'.
"People who are not in with Hamas don't see any of the relief goods or the gifts of money," Khadar says. On the sand dune where his house once perched, there is now an emergency shelter. The shelter is made of concrete blocks that Khadar dug from the rubble, and the roof is the canvas of a tent that provided the family with shelter for the first summer after the war. "Hamas supporters get prefabricated housing, furnishings and paid work. We get nothing," Khadar complains.
Hamas Members Take and Distribute 'at Their Own Discretion'
The reason his family receives nothing: Like many of his neighbors, Khadar is a die-hard supporter of the Fatah party, the sworn political enemy of the more radical Islamists in Hamas. That's why Khadar has little hope of seeing any of the 10,000 tons of aid that the activist flotilla heading for the Gaza Strip tried to bring to Gaza's harbor at the start of this week.
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9 comments:
"Since 1973, Israel has cost the United States about $1.6 trillion. If divided by today's population, that is more than $5,700 per person."
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Hey cons, why is it ok to spend money on only your pet projects like Israel, prisons, police, military, etc?
I hope Case is over her hormonal rage already.
Why does it have to be "hormonal rage"? That is very male chavinistic pig thinking, don't you think? You think that a woman can't be enraged without it being hormonally caused?
I expected better from you RG!
Now, look at what we give other countries that like us even less.
This was started under the Marshall Plan, which by the way was under a democratic president and congress.
Here are the top 16 recipients of U.S. foreign aid for 2005:
1. Israel 2.58 Billion
2. Egypt 1.84 Billion
3. Afganistan 0.98 Billion
4. Pakistan 0.70 Billion
5. Colombia 0.57 Billion
6. Sudan 0.50 Billion
7. Jordan 0.48 Billion
8. Uganda 0.25 Billion
9. Kenya 0.24 Billion
10. Ethiopia 0.19 Billion
11. South Africa 0.19 Billion
12. Peru 0.19 Billion
13. Indonesia 0.18 Billion
14. Bolivia 0.18 Billion
15. Nigeria 0.18 Billion
16. Zambia 0.18 Billion
source:
CRS Report for Congress: Foreign Aid
Of all of these countries, Israel is the only real ally. Sorry you think that this is a waste of money. Israel hasn't "cost us". We have given willingly.
"Why does it have to be "hormonal rage"? "
Uh, because about monthly you go berserk.
"That is very male chavinistic pig thinking, don't you think? "
No. Males are are often warlike because of their hormones. It's a fact of life.
"Israel hasn't "cost us""
Seems to me money for countries 2-16 fights terrorism, and money for country number 1 causes terrorism (although it's not their fault, it's religious maniacs fault). And maybe cons realize this but know fighting terrorism is good for business?
Yeah. Defending yourself causes terrorism. Typical.
You are surrounded by people---whole nations that want nothing more than your total destruction---and you are the cause of terrorism.
And if giving money to 2-16 is fighting terrorism, we are failing miserably.
"And if giving money to 2-16 is fighting terrorism, we are failing miserably. "
I think the fighting terrorism business is doing well.
Mother Jones. The lefts conspiracy theory website....I've seen it. It's been around for alot of years.
Regarding the posted article: This is of no suprise---try being a Christian under Hamas---or in any other Arab nation.
And who were the organizers of this Flotilla? Why it was Bill Ayres and his lovely wife, Bernardine Dohrn along with Code Pink. Great. More Progressive heros.
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