I drove south to take a look at the Gaza Strip from the outside.
Its not possible to get inside - Israel has closed the borders -
but I thought it would be interesting to see the crossing points
and what it is like around there.
Its not possible to get inside - Israel has closed the borders -
but I thought it would be interesting to see the crossing points
and what it is like around there.
I saw the three crossing points. Raffa in the south is completely
closed and barred. Karni has no traffic and is apparently closed.
There is a lot of military around there including dozens of tanks
and monster bulldozers. Eretz had a few vehicles - TV and Red Cross
crews - but otherwise was completely dead. There was zero movement of commodities or people in or out of Gaza.
What was really interesting was what is outside beyond the vision
of people who live in Gaza. What a difference a wall makes. On one side is one of the most
densely pieces of land on earth. On the other side it looks like
the Canadian prairies! Grass and wheat fields stretching to the
horizon. Who could have imagined?
There are numerous Israeli settlements in the area. I drove around
one close to Eretz. Nice dwellings, lots of space, nice playground,
green grass on a soccer field. I wonder if they ever wonder what
life is like for those in Gaza. (I wonder if the people inside Gaza
realize what a different world lies on the other side of the wall.)
Why are one and a quarter million people jammed into the tiny Gaza
Strip with so much land surrounding them?
one close to Eretz. Nice dwellings, lots of space, nice playground,
green grass on a soccer field. I wonder if they ever wonder what
life is like for those in Gaza. (I wonder if the people inside Gaza
realize what a different world lies on the other side of the wall.)
Why are one and a quarter million people jammed into the tiny Gaza
Strip with so much land surrounding them?
One can see justification for Israel controlling who enters their
space. But why are they controlling who can enter the Palestinian
Territories including Gaza?
Israel made a highly publicized pullout from Gaza. Yet they still
control its borders. why? Why does Israel prevent Palestinians from
freely moving between Gaza and the West Bank?
control its borders. why? Why does Israel prevent Palestinians from
freely moving between Gaza and the West Bank?
The contrast between the dense controlled open air prison inside
the Gaza Strip and the rolling fields stretching to the horizon on
the Israeli side of the wall is shocking.
the Gaza Strip and the rolling fields stretching to the horizon on
the Israeli side of the wall is shocking.
As writers have recently said, Gaza is not just a prison, it is a
laboratory. The minders monitor behaviour as they reduce available
food and medicine, prevent movement and apply more or less pressure
and violence. This is what is happening today in Gaza while the
"civilized world" looks the other way.
laboratory. The minders monitor behaviour as they reduce available
food and medicine, prevent movement and apply more or less pressure
and violence. This is what is happening today in Gaza while the
"civilized world" looks the other way.
1 comment:
wow, thats a pretty interesting point about how much open space there is around gaza when the people are crammed in like sardines. Ive been trying to keep up with your posts, but its been tough in the mts dad. I finally got some comp access today. Hope the trip went well, im sure theres a lot you saw a much more you didnt but it sounds like it has been wuite an adventure. Looking forward to your return, be safe and take care.
Post a Comment