Gaza Withdrawal
Gaza turmoil
 James M. Wall, Christian Century, discusses White House Middle East policy chief Elliott Abrams'alleged plan, contained within a leaked 16-page document, to "arm and train Fatah loyalists" so that they might "topple the Hamas government" (tonykaron.com).He concludes that "The realities of U.S. military funding of Fatah and U.S. training of Fatah troops leave little doubt that the U.S. is once again choosing sides in another country's internal conflict, and once again displaying the arrogance that led to disasters in Vietnam, El Salvador, Guatemala and Iraq." |
Perpetuating the cycle of violence
 Speaking about the situation in Gaza, D. Ahmad Abu Tawahina of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme characterises the Palestinian psychological environment as "terrifying" and "traumatising". Israel's policies are "creating a health and environmental disaster".
Israel is waging "psychological warfare" against Gazans. "Life becomes unpredictable. No one can avoid involvement. No one can hide. Trauma is caused by these uncontrollable, unavoidable and uncontainable factors. People cannot develop coping strategies. They have a feeling of helplessness which induces depression. Israel is driving the whole community into a pathological state, paralysing Palestinians." |
Watching Gaza: "the Genovese syndrome"
 by James J. Zogby
Today I thought of Kitty Genovese. Some of you won't remember her, but many of my generation will recall the horror and shame they felt after hearing the story of how she was raped and stabbed to death on a New York City street in 1964. What shocked the nation was the fact that 37 witnesses heard Kitty's cries but did nothing to help. Years later, social scientists studying this disturbing passivity termed it the "Genovese Syndrome"?. That is how I feel about what is happening in Gaza today. Israel is getting away with murder and the world is letting it happen. |
Palestine - making a bad situation worse
GAZA - With Hamas in control of the Palestinian Authority government, and Western donors halting all direct aid to it, an already precarious humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza could turn worse.
by Mohammed El Samhouri
Politics of chaos: Gaza's turmoil in context
| The most recent kidnappings in the Gaza Strip are a disheartening testimony to how factionalism, corruption and lack of discipline can scar a national struggle that was meant to exemplify precisely the opposite.
Although attempts to hijack and reduce the Palestinian struggle date back to its very early days, never before have these efforts succeeded in eclipsing Palestinian national priorities in their entirety, as we are witnessing today. By Ramzy Baroud |
Poisoned Honey: Israeli Tactics in Post-Disengagement Gaza
 Despite its so-called disengagement, Israel's war against Palestine has entered a new phase. In addition to the targeted killings of Palestinian militant leaders in the West Bank and Gaza, the Israeli army is tormenting the entire population in Gaza with sound concussion grenades. American-made F-16s circle, followed by explosions so loud that if one is detonated from a plane flying over Beit Hanoun in north Gaza, it can be heard all the way down in south Gaza.
by Mohammed Omer |
Bordering Autonomy
Last week Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice brokered a deal between Israelis and Palestinians on the Rafah border crossing which connects the "disengaged" Gaza Strip with the outside world. Although significant, the recent push by the United States is merely the first step on the long road to justice.
By Remi Kanazi
