Re: Gaza/ Israel
Originally Posted by
AnnieS
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It's pretty clear we are discussing the occupied territories when we discuss Palestinian land. Every authority has agreed that the fourth Geneva convention applies to this land. Israel disagrees with the UN etc.
They are not 'occupied ' this is just an emotive word to conjure up the Nazi comparison .
They are disputed .
Who would t disagree with the corrupt and useless organisation that is the UN
These areas do not have any Israeli character, they trade in dollars and they have Palestinian flags everywhere. The West Bank feels similar to being in Jordan. It's a striking difference in culture.
Well as it is governed by the Palestinian Fatah government so it will have flags everywhere .
Of course it has some Israeli character it has some of the holiest sites of the Jewish faith .
Under Jordan Jews were prohibited from visiting these sites .
Jordan also destroyed and desecrated many Jewish holy sites
Israel however allows freedom of all faiths to visit their holy place .
I'm not sure why Israel continues to hold onto these territories. They would be better off having a border with Jordan rather than hanging onto the West Bank.
They have a border with Jordan .
Jordan annexed the West Bank it was not originally part of Jordan .
If it hadn't waged a totally unnecessary war on Israel it would have it still . Israel had no beef with Jordan .
I don't know much about Gaza other than from documentaries. You can't go there as a tourist. Are there Israeli settlements there?
No Annie there are no settlements or Isrealis in the Gaza .
Israeli withdrew completely in 2005 .
The Gaza Strip was formally part of Egypt .
Israel took it when Egypt waged war on them together with the sInai .
They returned this land in a land for peace deal
Except Egypt didn't want it back ( they don't want the troublesome 'Palestinians ' either .)
Gaza is ruled completely by the terrorist group Hamas
Hamas is an off shoot of the Muslim Brotherhood which is illegal in Egypt .
Hamas was elected by the people of Gaza and have not held elections since .
They are at odds with Fatah -the Palestinian governors of the West Bank .
Fatah controls to some extent electricity supplies and finance to the Gaza .
Hamas would like to rule the West Bank too.
Of course this would be disasterous for Israel who cannot have a terrorist organisation next to them they would in a totally indefensible position .
The Palestinians of the West Bank don't want Hamas either .While they may not like the Israelis they are can't but be aware of what life under Hamas would be.
The Gaza Strip as run by Hamas is oppressive and totally controlling .Sharia Law is in place and nepotism is rife ( it is in most ME countries) Jobs are allotted to Hamas members and their families .All who are subsided by UNRWA and other sources .Hence there is a hierarchy of Hamas .The leaders live lives of comfort and privilege and the same time as promoting their people as the most wretched .
Their sons will not be running the streets risking the wrath of Israel .
If there was peace the Hamas elite would lose their privileged and subsidised lifestyle .
A Gazan women screamed this out just recently .
Predictably she was arrested