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March 25, 2012
Daily Summary 03/23/2012
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Main NewsDIESEL HAS BEGUN TO BE PUMPED INTO GAZA
According to Nathmi Muhanna, head of borders and crossings, said this morning that amounts of Israeli industrial diesel have begun to be pumped into Gaza’s power station through the Karem Abu Salem crossing. Muhanna told Maan that “after efforts made by President Mahmoud Abbas and PM Salam Fayyad along with Hussein Al Sheikh and the Egyptians with the Israeli side, which finally came through this morning.” Muhanna announced last night that 450,000 liters of Israeli diesel would be pumped into the power station through the crossing in order to alleviate the suffering of the people. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=470452)
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TO FORM INTERNATIONAL FACT-FINDING COMMITTEE INTO SETTLEMENTS
The UN Human Rights Council ratified last night a resolution calling for an investigation into the ramifications of Israeli settlements on the rights of the Palestinians. According to the Palestinian delegation to the UN in Geneva, the decision includes a general clause regarding the formation of an independent international fact-finding committee to look into these economic, social and cultural ramifications on the Palestinians including in East Jerusalem. The decision also calls on the high commissioner for human rights and the UN Secretary General to provide the administrative and logistical support to allow the committee to fulfill its mandate. The decision was adopted by a 36 majority vote with 10 abstentions while the United States was the only state that voted against. According to the delegation, there were a number of other resolutions on Palestine that were voted on. In terms of the resolution on the right of Palestinians to self-determination, 46 of the 47 member states voted for while the US voted against. On the resolution regarding human rights in the Palestinian territories, 44 member states voted in favor while the US was the only country to vote against and two countries – Guatemala and Cameron – abstained. The resolution on the fact finding mission also included a clause on settler violence, calling on Israel to take serious measures in this regard, including the confiscation of settler weapons. Israel considered the resolutions are “unjustified and unconstructive.” Israeli PM called the Human Rights Council “hypocritical” for its resolutions on the fact finding mission. (Al Quds). PLO executive committee member Wasel Abu Yousef said the Human Rights Council resolution was a major achievement because it meant the world stood beside the right of the Palestinian people to restrict settlements in order to realize their state. Abu Yousef said he believed the resolution would open the doors to a number of countries from the international community to stand beside the Palestinians because the fact-finding commission will show the world what the Palestinian territories are enduring because of Israeli settlements. (http://qudsnet.com/arabic/news.php?maa=View&id=216255)
NOISY MARCH OF SETTLERS IN OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM DEMANDING THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE
Dozens of settlers participated in a noisy march last night which started in the Buraq courtyard southwest of Al Aqsa and which moved into the alleys of the Old City under the protection of Israeli soldiers and police, calling for the building of the alleged Temple. The settlers used bullhorns and chanted slogans calling for the expulsion of and deaths to Arabs and the building of the Temple in place of Al Aqsa. According to eyewitnesses, the settlers banged on the doors of Palestinian homes in the Old City’s Muslim quarter. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
ZAHHAR: UNITY GOVERNMENT DEPENDS ON ELECTIONS IN JERUSALEM
Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahhar said yesterday that the formation of a unity government depends on whether Israel agrees to allow elections to be held in occupied East Jerusalem as well as in the West Bank. Zahhar also denied that the movement had allied itself with other parties, saying “our relationship with any other country will never be at the expense of the Palestinian cause and the resistance, adding that Fatah’s incitement against Iran was in order to get closer to the United States. Zahhar said that if President Abbas doesn’t get Israeli permission to hold elections in Jerusalem then there would be no justification for him heading the government, saying the transitional government would become permanent instead of temporary. Zahhar denied Fatah accusations that Hamas wants a continuation of the split because of its alliance with Iran, asking why Iran would want to put obstacles in front of the reconciliation in the first place. He also said Hamas had not left Syria officially, saying any moves by Hamas leaders to other countries was a personal choice. (http://safa.ps/details/news/74102/الزهارحكومة-التوافق-مرهونة-بإجراء-الانتخابات-بالقدس.html)
ISRAEL WARNS NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES OF CONSEQUENCES OF THE JERUSALEM MARCH TOWARDS ITS BORDERS
Israel has sent a clear warning to neighboring Arab countries not to allow the International Jerusalem march to take place next Friday, saying it would consider anyone who approaches its borders as infiltrators and would act firmly against them. Israel claims the organizers of the march are “parties hostile to Israel” and said it would prevent them from reaching its borders. Political sources said the Israeli government sent the governments of Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan in addition the de facto Hamas government in Gaza and the PA warning letters calling on them not to allow an escalation of tension in the area with these marches. The Israeli military has also formulated a ‘security plan’ to confront any “danger of protesters rushing to the borders,’ which will be put to the Israeli government meeting on Sunday for ratification. The marches, organized by the international committee for the march towards Jerusalem, will take place on March 30 to coincide with Land Day. According to the committee, around half a million people from around the world will participate in the marches representing 700 organizations from 64 countries. The committee also said the marches would get to the closest possible point to the borders with Jerusalem adding that they would take place according to coordination with popular and official parties in each country, which means they will not approach Israeli-controlled borders per se. Still, Israel sees the move as “provocative and hostile”. (http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&issueno=12169&article=669341&feature=)
15 PRISONERS INJURED IN JALBOU’ DURING DNA TESTING; QARAQE’: COMPLAINT TO HIGH COURT AGAINST PRISON AUTHORITIES
15 prisoners were injured when Israeli police and prisoner authorities broke into prisoners’ cells in the Jalbou’ prison to force them into being tested for DNA samples. The administration closed the prison in the aftermath and prevented the Prisoner Society attorney and the families of the prisoners from visiting. After authorities locked the prisoners in their cells, clashes broke out between them in which several prisoners were injured. According to Prisoner Affairs Minister Issa Qaraqe’, 120 prisoners from Jalbou’ decided to file a lawsuit with the Israel high court against the prison services for forcing them to take the DNA test. Special Israeli forces broke into the cell where Abbas Al Sayyed, an Izzedin Al Qassam leader is held, who is serving 35 life sentences. When he refused to be tested, the Israeli troops attacked him, tied him up and took the sample by forces. Qaraqe said the legal teams at the ministry were fallowing up on the case in the high court, saying there was no law in the world that allows DNA samples to be taken without the consent of the person. According to the Hurriyat Center, 60 prisoners have been tested without their knowledge while 23 prisoners in Hadarim Prison were forced to take the test. (Al Quds)
THOUSANDS CHANT “THE PEOPLE WANT AN END TO THE SPLIT” IN NABLUS
Thousands of people including representatives from official and civil organizations and political movement participated yesterday in a massive march called for by the Nablus district forces and activities committee, under the title “Ending the split is a collective responsibility and a national duty.” Education Minister Nasser Eddin Shaer gave a speech before the crowds, saying “We need to stop being the laughing stock to the world or we will hate ourselves for this every time we look in the mirror.” He called on the leaders to immediately end this situation (Al Quds)
Settlers break into building in central Hebron
A large group of settlers broke into a building on the Beer Saba’ Road in the center of Hebron this morning. According to eyewitnesses, around 100 extremist settlers broke into the building after the area was closed off by Israeli army forces. The army also closed off the road leading to the building, which settlers call the “Tomb of Etna’el Bin Qunnar” and consider a Jewish shrine. The settlers break into the building often and perform Jewish prayers there even though it was previously a Palestinian home taken over by the settlers years ago. (http://safa.ps/details/news/74108/مستوطنون-يداهمون-مبنىً-وسط-الخليل.html)
Prisoner Khader Adnan: I am ashamed when I eat
Prisoner Khader Adnan, who was transferred from the Ze’ev Hospital in Safad to the Ramleh Prison hospital said yesterday that he feels ashamed when he heats while hearing the news that hunger striker Hana’ Shalabi is being moved from one hospital to another. According to attorney Jawad Bulous from the Prisoners’ Society who visited Adnan yesterday, the prisoner is concerned and is complaining that many of the recommendations from doctors at Ze’ev are not being followed by the Ramleh hospital doctors, especially the administration of vitamins, calcium and Omega 3 supplements. Prison authorities tried to put Adnan in an isolated room but he opposed and was put in a public ward with 16 other prisoners, noting that some prisoners are forced to sleep on the floor (Al Quds)
Turkey intervenes to help Palestinians reach reconciliation
Fatah member in consultations with Hamas over reconciliation efforts said yesterday that Turkey has gotten involved in reconciliation talks in a bid to push the parties towards ending the split. Maqbul said President Abbas asked Turkey during his visit to the country last month to put pressure on Hamas to implement the Doha agreement. He said discussions were held between Abbas and Turkish and Qatari officials who all said they would help to push efforts forward. Maqbul said Turkey is continuing its efforts to convince Hamas to carry out the agreement and clearly put the blame on the Hamas leadership in Gaza. “As we all know, the problem is in Gaza and not in the Hamas leadership abroad,” he said, adding that he hoped the Turkish and Qatari efforts would bear fruit. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=today\22x79.htm&arc=data\2012\03\03-22\22x79.htm)
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Headlines
*Bulous: Hana’ Shalabi’s health condition is in extreme danger (Al Ayyam)
*Al Ahmad: hindrance of the Doha Agreement will make the reconciliation “gone with the wind” (Al Quds)
*French police kill suspect in the Toulouse attacks (Al Quds)
*Fatah calls for participation in the International Jerusalem March on Land Day (Al Quds)
*Safouh Bedouin in Bethlehem in constant struggle with the occupation (Al Quds)
*The President confirms to British parliamentarian delegation the leadership’s determination to form national unity government (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Israeli minister: We should return to Joseph’s Tomb (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Fayyad calls on donors to quickly transfer money to PA so it can face its financial crisis (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Citizens, supporters protest near Israeli checkpoints at entrances to Beit Iksa. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Britain refuses to publish an advertisement by the Israeli tourist ministry that does not designate the 67 borders (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*EU representatives: settler attacks are part of plan to displace Palestinians from their homes. (Al Ayyam)
*Gaza continues to suffer from fuel crisis and Hamas considers the crisis as “political” and “fabricated” (Al Ayyam)
*Barak: threats to strike Iran militarily are useless (Al Ayyam)
*Congress offers additional funding to Iron Dome (MAAN)
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Front Page Photos
Al-Quds: 1) Jerusalem: ongoing construction in the Armon Hantsif settlement; 2) Ramallah: argument between citizens and Israeli soldiers during a sit in in front of the Ofer detention center in solidarity with Hana Shalabi; 3)Nablus: scene from demonstration to end the split
Al-Ayyam: demonstrators wave flags at the entrance to Beit Iksa
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida: 1) demonstrators wave flags at the entrance to Beit Iksa. 2) demonstrators in front of Ofer prison in solidarity with Hana’ Shalabi; 3) demonstrators in Nablus raise signs calling for an end to the split
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Arab Press
The Palestinian cause in the context of the Arab Spring
Al Dustour Editorial
It is hard to deny that the Arab Spring had a negative effect on the importance and status of the Palestinian cause in the Arab and international political agendas. The Arab countries’ preoccupation with their own internal situations, especially those which underwent or are still undergoing violent changes and armed confrontations, has made these countries’ participation in the Arab efforts towards the Palestinian cause almost nonexistent.
In the same vein, the platforms for Arab coordination on the Palestinian cause are nearly obsolete; the Palestinian side has been left to readapt its policies with the current situation in light of the retreat in the level of support to the Palestinian negotiator who continues to face Israeli intransigence. The options in front of the Palestinian Authority have become very limited and are represented in the bilateral coordination efforts with some countries, particularly Jordan, which has continued to play a supportive role for the Palestinian people. That is, taking into consideration the direct strategic relationship and constant commitment of the Jordanian leadership to keep the Palestinian cause at the forefront of Arab and international agendas.
However, in return, there are also positive impacts of the Arab Spring on the Palestinian case, namely the change of climate which led to political competition between Fatah and Hamas, who reached a reconciliation agreement, which also exposed the nature of regional roles which try to control the Palestinian decision. In the same context, the Arab Spring also proved how much Arab youths and all Arab communities are concerned with achieving freedom and justice and the inconceivability of the Palestinian people remaining under Israeli occupation while other countries who lived under the yoke of oppression attained this freedom and participation in the decisions of their country.
The period of the Arab Spring could be invested in to exercise more pressure on major and influential political forces in the world to work towards helping the Palestinians achieve their rights to sovereignty over their land and resources. The continuation of the Israeli occupation means the continuation of tension and the region never enjoying political stability. In addition to this, achieving justice for the Palestinian people and eliminating the roots of the conflict in the region will strip all of the oppressive regimes’ of their slogans, which they have used for so many years to practice corruption and tyranny against their people, under the pretext of supporting the Palestinian cause. The Palestinians do not need dictatorial regimes to support them.
The most significant impacts of the Arab Spring on the Palestinian cause will become clearer in the coming weeks. What has happened is that the negative effects have already shown up while the positive effects need more time because they are long-term and need proper management and investment by the Palestinian Authority. This is especially true in terms of continuing the reconciliation in spite of Israeli pressures, which always try to sabotage internal Palestinian unity. (http://www.addustour.com/ViewTopic.aspx?ac=\OpinionAndNotes\2012\03\OpinionAndNotes_issue1618_day23_id401556.htm)
Israeli chutzpah, again
By Daoud Kuttab
Hana Shalabi has been on hunger strike for over a month. Her condition has been deteriorating so badly that prison officials had to transfer her to a Haifa hospital.
Shalabi is protesting being held in administrative detention. This is a quasi-legal action through which Israel incarcerates individuals without charge or proper trial. Israel inherited this undemocratic procedure from the British mandate, which enacted it as part of the 1945 emergency regulations.
International humanitarian law considers this procedure illegal and Israel was asked by the international community on numerous occasions to end this practice.
Over 300 Palestinians are presently held without charge. Administrative detention orders are usually six months long; they are made by an Israeli military commander and presented in front of a military committee for renewal or cancellation.
Typically, individuals are detained by such order when the military prosecutors do not have strong enough evidence to charge them, but have a strong feeling that they are guilty of some security crime and prefer to keep them behind bars. However, many times administrative detention are used as punishment, revenge or as part of a system that the Israeli intelligence service (Shin Bet) uses to control the Palestinian population.
This seems to be the case against Shalabi, who was released last year as part of an Israeli-Hamas prisoner exchange. Released Palestinians are given a pardon recommended by the minister of defence and signed by the Israeli president. The very meaning of a pardon is that all the previous charges and sentencing are erased from all legal books.
While some might attempt to try Shalabi in the court of public opinion, she is considered innocent in the eyes of the law. Basic juridical concepts prevent governments from punishing a person twice for the same crime or from using a pardoned crime as justification for further punishment.
Shalabi’s previous record, regardless of what she did, cannot be used against her.
The state of Israel has no new evidence of wrongdoing against Shalabi, otherwise they would have charged her. In fact, the Israeli commander who signed the order against her chose the unusual step of ordering her incarceration for four months, rather than the usual six months. This is a sign of lack of any “secret” evidence against her.
In an attempt to get out of the quagmire they find themselves in, and to prevent setting a precedent, the Israeli military prosecutors offered to free Shalabi on condition that she is transferred to Gaza.
A similar offer was made to her lawyers to have her sent to Jordan. It is unclear whether the offer is for the duration of the administrative detention and what guarantees, if any, were offered for her return. Both offers were rejected by Shalabi through her lawyer.
The idea of deportation, temporary or permanent, touches a nerve with the Palestinians. Since its establishment in 1948, the state of Israel has prevented Palestinians who left to avoid the violence from returning to their homes.
While any Jewish citizen, from anywhere in the world, is allowed to come to Israel and receive immediate citizenship, Palestinians continue to suffer from what is called “transfer” policy, which uses administrative means to deny individuals residency, sometimes when they are away for schooling or work.
Even inside areas that Israel controls there is a policy of internal displacement and exile. Twenty-six Palestinians who took refuge in the Church of the Nativity in May 2002 were expelled to Gaza, and 13 to various European locations. They have been denied the right to return to their homes since.
Israel, which always boasts of being the only democracy in the Middle East, uses various emergency laws and administrative orders to control the Palestinian population under its military rule. The rule of law is converted by the Israelis into a rule by law — military law, that is — by which the Israeli army decides how millions of Palestinians are controlled.
Most Palestinians have learned the hard way to acquiesce to this unjust rule and play the game by obeying the rules of the military dictators. Shalabi refuses to play by these unjust rules. She is using a centuries-old nonviolent technique to show her protest. She suffers to make the world see injustice. Will anyone see and react? (AMIN)
* A Palestinian columnist based in Amman, Jordan. - [email protected]
It is hard to deny that the Arab Spring had a negative effect on the importance and status of the Palestinian cause in the Arab and international political agendas. The Arab countries’ preoccupation with their own internal situations, especially those which underwent or are still undergoing violent changes and armed confrontations, has made these countries’ participation in the Arab efforts towards the Palestinian cause almost nonexistent.
In the same vein, the platforms for Arab coordination on the Palestinian cause are nearly obsolete; the Palestinian side has been left to readapt its policies with the current situation in light of the retreat in the level of support to the Palestinian negotiator who continues to face Israeli intransigence. The options in front of the Palestinian Authority have become very limited and are represented in the bilateral coordination efforts with some countries, particularly Jordan, which has continued to play a supportive role for the Palestinian people. That is, taking into consideration the direct strategic relationship and constant commitment of the Jordanian leadership to keep the Palestinian cause at the forefront of Arab and international agendas.
However, in return, there are also positive impacts of the Arab Spring on the Palestinian case, namely the change of climate which led to political competition between Fatah and Hamas, who reached a reconciliation agreement, which also exposed the nature of regional roles which try to control the Palestinian decision. In the same context, the Arab Spring also proved how much Arab youths and all Arab communities are concerned with achieving freedom and justice and the inconceivability of the Palestinian people remaining under Israeli occupation while other countries who lived under the yoke of oppression attained this freedom and participation in the decisions of their country.
The period of the Arab Spring could be invested in to exercise more pressure on major and influential political forces in the world to work towards helping the Palestinians achieve their rights to sovereignty over their land and resources. The continuation of the Israeli occupation means the continuation of tension and the region never enjoying political stability. In addition to this, achieving justice for the Palestinian people and eliminating the roots of the conflict in the region will strip all of the oppressive regimes’ of their slogans, which they have used for so many years to practice corruption and tyranny against their people, under the pretext of supporting the Palestinian cause. The Palestinians do not need dictatorial regimes to support them.
The most significant impacts of the Arab Spring on the Palestinian cause will become clearer in the coming weeks. What has happened is that the negative effects have already shown up while the positive effects need more time because they are long-term and need proper management and investment by the Palestinian Authority. This is especially true in terms of continuing the reconciliation in spite of Israeli pressures, which always try to sabotage internal Palestinian unity. (http://www.addustour.com/ViewTopic.aspx?ac=\OpinionAndNotes\2012\03\OpinionAndNotes_issue1618_day23_id401556.htm)
Israeli chutzpah, again
By Daoud Kuttab
Hana Shalabi has been on hunger strike for over a month. Her condition has been deteriorating so badly that prison officials had to transfer her to a Haifa hospital.
Shalabi is protesting being held in administrative detention. This is a quasi-legal action through which Israel incarcerates individuals without charge or proper trial. Israel inherited this undemocratic procedure from the British mandate, which enacted it as part of the 1945 emergency regulations.
International humanitarian law considers this procedure illegal and Israel was asked by the international community on numerous occasions to end this practice.
Over 300 Palestinians are presently held without charge. Administrative detention orders are usually six months long; they are made by an Israeli military commander and presented in front of a military committee for renewal or cancellation.
Typically, individuals are detained by such order when the military prosecutors do not have strong enough evidence to charge them, but have a strong feeling that they are guilty of some security crime and prefer to keep them behind bars. However, many times administrative detention are used as punishment, revenge or as part of a system that the Israeli intelligence service (Shin Bet) uses to control the Palestinian population.
This seems to be the case against Shalabi, who was released last year as part of an Israeli-Hamas prisoner exchange. Released Palestinians are given a pardon recommended by the minister of defence and signed by the Israeli president. The very meaning of a pardon is that all the previous charges and sentencing are erased from all legal books.
While some might attempt to try Shalabi in the court of public opinion, she is considered innocent in the eyes of the law. Basic juridical concepts prevent governments from punishing a person twice for the same crime or from using a pardoned crime as justification for further punishment.
Shalabi’s previous record, regardless of what she did, cannot be used against her.
The state of Israel has no new evidence of wrongdoing against Shalabi, otherwise they would have charged her. In fact, the Israeli commander who signed the order against her chose the unusual step of ordering her incarceration for four months, rather than the usual six months. This is a sign of lack of any “secret” evidence against her.
In an attempt to get out of the quagmire they find themselves in, and to prevent setting a precedent, the Israeli military prosecutors offered to free Shalabi on condition that she is transferred to Gaza.
A similar offer was made to her lawyers to have her sent to Jordan. It is unclear whether the offer is for the duration of the administrative detention and what guarantees, if any, were offered for her return. Both offers were rejected by Shalabi through her lawyer.
The idea of deportation, temporary or permanent, touches a nerve with the Palestinians. Since its establishment in 1948, the state of Israel has prevented Palestinians who left to avoid the violence from returning to their homes.
While any Jewish citizen, from anywhere in the world, is allowed to come to Israel and receive immediate citizenship, Palestinians continue to suffer from what is called “transfer” policy, which uses administrative means to deny individuals residency, sometimes when they are away for schooling or work.
Even inside areas that Israel controls there is a policy of internal displacement and exile. Twenty-six Palestinians who took refuge in the Church of the Nativity in May 2002 were expelled to Gaza, and 13 to various European locations. They have been denied the right to return to their homes since.
Israel, which always boasts of being the only democracy in the Middle East, uses various emergency laws and administrative orders to control the Palestinian population under its military rule. The rule of law is converted by the Israelis into a rule by law — military law, that is — by which the Israeli army decides how millions of Palestinians are controlled.
Most Palestinians have learned the hard way to acquiesce to this unjust rule and play the game by obeying the rules of the military dictators. Shalabi refuses to play by these unjust rules. She is using a centuries-old nonviolent technique to show her protest. She suffers to make the world see injustice. Will anyone see and react? (AMIN)
* A Palestinian columnist based in Amman, Jordan. - [email protected]
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Opinions
Donor countries and the dead end political horizon
Al Quds Editorial
The closing statement of meeting of donor countries to the PA two days ago had detailed analysis of the difficult economic situation of the PA in addition to recommendations on how to overcome this financial crisis which the Palestinian government will go through this year if its limited financial resources and the funds from donor countries – which the statement admitted fell short – can even partially cover the deficit in the budget.
Add to this the “wish” that Israel will ease some of the restrictions on the transport of goods and people in the West Bank, including between the West Bank and Gaza in the hopes that this will revitalize the Palestinian economy which has – according to the statement – witnessed a type of stagnancy. And the statement stops here.
As for the positions on the suggestions made by the Palestinians during the meetings, these remained unclear, especially on the issue of the clearance tax. It is as if these countries are saying that things can not be better than they were after the Paris Protocol and so there should be a continuation of the status quo with the least amount of amendments possible. This, it seems, is the most appropriate option for this period and perhaps for future periods as well.
While the Palestinians appreciate all the countries who have offered them help under the difficult circumstances of the continued occupation which has lasted almost 45 years, the pressing question now is whether this occupation will go on for another 45 years since the international community keeps silent towards Israel’s efforts to maintain it.
What is so noticeable about the closing statement its almost completely economic nature; it is empty of even a ray of hope that the donor countries and all or any of the major powers today will make any equal political effort to put an end to the occupation, which is the main reason behind our people’s suffering in all aspects of life, including economic.
Economic and financial said, in spite of their importance, will not solve the problem. The world saw how 10 years ago during the Aqsa Intifada, Israel destroyed all the facilities built by the donor countries, which cost billions of dollars. The donor countries did not even demand compensation for the destruction wreaked by Israel.
The Palestinians want a clear political horizon for their cause and hope that their independent state will be established. Can the world not demand from Israel -- clearly and unequivocally – to end its occupation?
This is the guaranteed solution to revive the Palestinian economy and bring the people of Palestine into the league of independent nations; and the Israeli occupation is standing in the way of this very goal. (Al Quds)
Getting fuel and electricity is wishful thinking in Gaza
WAFA//Al Hayat Al Jadida
The moment Khalil Abu Sultan, ‘Abu Mohammed’ heard that there was gas at one of the gas stations on the outskirts of the Shiekh Radwan quarter east of Gaza City, he rushed out, carrying a container in his hand. But Abu Mohammed, 30 was met with a long line of people and cars who had already beat him to the station to buy gas for their cars and electric generators. Abu Mohammed tried to push his way through to get to the front of the line but to no avail. He had to take his place at the very end.
This citizen describes the situation in the Gaza Strip as the worst he has ever lived in since the Israeli siege was imposed five years ago. “The situation is so bad, it is hardly bearable,” he says. “No electricity, no diesel, no gas…we do not even have enough water sometimes.”
As he watched as the long line moved slowly ahead, Abu Mohammed became angry as he spoke. “Our lives in Gaza are not fit for any human where there is a lack of even the most basic needs.” Abu Mohammed continued, saying the electricity cuts off for 12 hours a day and is on for six, adding that he used to depend on a generator to light the house at night but that he now resorts to candlelight.
After two hours in the line, it is finally Abu Mohammed’s turn. But he was not able to fill his container because the gas tank was empty, which got him mumbling angrily under his breath.
This was not the case of one driver who was able to fill up his car with gas. “I stood in line for nearly three hours and in the end I was only able to put 50 shekel’s worth of gas in my car,” he says. “Getting gas and electricity has become our only wish and desire,” he says. The driver said sometimes he and others are forced to buy an 18-liter container of diesel or gas for NIS100 or more when it was no more than NIS4 a liter before the crisis. This has forced this drive and others to raise their fares, which in turn has upset the people. Sometimes, he said, this has even resulted in fights between the taxi drivers and citizens.
With the escalating fuel crisis, Gazans are now forced to stand at the side of main streets and roads to catch a taxi or bus that will take them home, to their universities or to work. University student Mahmoud Hassan, who lives in the Beach refugee camp west of Gaza City and studies at Al Azhar University says, “Since the fuel crisis, I have been walking to and from my university.” Hassan says he has to leave home an hour before his lecture in order to make it in time. “I don’t want to miss anything,” he says.
The bakeries have not been spared the fuel and electricity crisis either. Their work has been decreased by half, which has had a negative effect on the citizens who have suffered under the siege for five years. The crisis has also effected the health, agricultural and environment sectors, which indicates to a possible humanitarian crisis in the already impoverished Gaza Strip.
In an old/new attempt to overcome the lack of fuel, some drivers have begun to use cooking oil to get their cars running in spite of the well-known harm it can do to people’s health and the environment. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
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