Israel could be responsible for a disaster, Meretz MK says

[Scurrilous]

Politicians at odds over Israel's response to Gaza crisis. While MK Gal-On warns of humanitarian crisis in Strip, National Union MK Eldad calls on government 'not to send them even one crumb of food'

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3413917,00.html

<snip>

"The State of Israel must not wait for a catastrophe to take place in Gaza, Knesset Member Zahava Gal-On, chairwoman of the Meretz faction, said Sunday.

MK Arieh Eldad (National Union-National Religious Party) believes, on the other hand, that the supplies of food, water and electricity to the Strip must be halted immediately.

Speaking to Ynet, MK Gal-On said that Israel could not evade its responsibility for preventing a humanitarian crisis in the Strip.

"We must immediately transfer food and medications to the Gaza Strip. We cannot allow ourselves to stand aloof. The international law and the laws of morality do not allow us to be indifferent and say 'let the Arabs kill themselves,'" Gal-On said, warning that "in the event of a disaster Israel will be seen responsible, just like what happened in Sabra and Shatila."

Mk Eldad claimed, on the other hand, that "we must not supply them with even one crumb of food."

[Ken Burch]

1. Real "Religious" that Mr. Eldad is. Prince of a guy.

The sick part is, most Israelis still agree with his fascist mindset.

Things have to change...

[LeftishBrit]

2. No; the religious parties in Israel are small - most do not agree with them

They can have too much influence due to the fact that absolute majorities are uncommon in the Israeli system, and small parties can hold the balance of power; but they don't represent the majority of Israelis.

I agree that things have to change. On all sides.

[Solo_in_MD]

6. While the hard core religious rarely speak for the majority, I think that they may this time

Most Israelis I know, support "cutting of Gaza until the people there learn to behave". That is a quote from a Sabra friend

[Tom Joad]

9. This of course represents a war crime. A military cannot work to

starve a people into submission.

[Solo_in_MD]

10. Nonsense

Israel does not have to support Gaza under the current situation. They are under no legal obligation to sell them fuel or supplies, or allow transportation of it through their territory.

Moral and ethical is something else entirely, but it is clearly not a war crime.

[LeftishBrit]

3. Good for her....

I wish there were more like her on both sides of the issue.

[Traveling_Home]

4. Hamas now controls the Gaza border with Egypt, doesn't it n/t

What prevents shipment of humanitarian aide?

[Scurrilous]

5. "What prevents shipment of humanitarian aide?"

The border crossings between Gaza and Egypt are closed and Hamas has no authority to open them.


17 June 2007: Urgent Appeal from Israeli Human Rights Groups to Israeli Defense Minister: Open Gaza's Borders to Prevent a Humanitarian Crisis

<snip>

"As we write these lines, hundreds of refugees are trapped between Erez crossing, which is sealed, and the Hamas military force preventing their return to Gaza . The sick and those injured from recent events are trapped in Gaza . Essential food products are diminishing, and there is a growing shortage of essential medical supplies. The state of Israel cannot stand idly by at a time when the fundamental human rights of Gaza residents are being violated and the right to life is being threatened.

Eight Israeli human rights organizations today warn of a crisis which has the potential of worsening if Israel continues to close borders and isolate Gaza from the outside world by preventing the supply of essential goods, trapping residents inside the Gaza Strip and preventing Gaza residents who traveled outside the Strip from returning home.

Over the weekend, Israel closed the border crossings between the Gaza Strip and the outside world. Karni Crossing, Gaza 's main artery through which essential supplies are transferred, is closed for the sixth day. Fresh food, such as meat, fruit and dairy products, have begun to diminish from the shelves. The World Food Program warns of food shortages by the end of the week if the crossings are not opened. Today, Nahal Oz, the passage way through which fuel is provided to the Gaza Strip, is closed.

Rafah Crossing on the Egyptian border has been closed for eight days and the Erez crossing into Israel has been closed since yesterday. Gaza residents who left the Strip are unable to return home and reunite with their families. Gaza residents seeking to leave to receive medical treatment in Egypt or Israel, including the chronically sick or those injured due to recent events, are trapped within Gaza. Even though a small number of blood rations arrived in the last few days to Gaza through Erez crossing, the shortage of essential medical supplies is worsening. Hundreds of refugees are attempting to escape the violence and are trapped in Erez Crossing, caught between IDF soldiers and the military wing of Hamas which is preventing these refugees from returning to Gaza .

The state of Israel cannot stand idly by at a time when fundamental human rights of Gaza residents are being violated, including the most essential of all rights – the right to life and physical integrity.

Israel controls the land crossings between Gaza and Israel , and Gaza 's air space and territorial waters, and does not allow the crossing of people or goods via the sea or air. To a great extent, Israel is exercising control of the border between Gaza and Egypt and completely controls the borders of the West Bank, to which refugees are trying to escape from Gaza . The closing of borders and the threat of disconnecting Gaza 's electricity and water grid can be interpreted as collective punishment for all Gaza residents."

http://www.btselem.org/english/Press_Releases/20070617.asp

[Traveling_Home]

7. Who does then?

"The border crossings between Gaza and Egypt are closed and Hamas has no authority to open them."


Why not? They are the Government. It seems like that is the one entrance/exit that they should be able to control. Isreal controls the other borders, the air space, and the port access. Is it Egypt that has closed the border? Won't they reopen now?

[Tom Joad]

8. Breadking News. Gaza is under Israeli occupation.

The nature of the occupation has changed, but it is still an occupation. 40 years and still going.

[Solo_in_MD]

11. The IDF has withdrawn from Gaza...that is large part of the problem

It has no central authority or viable government. The PA is clearly a failure.

[pelsar]

19. June 18 More Breaking News..gaza occupied by hamas

Hamas controls gaza and the rafah border control with egypt......

oh yea, minor detail about the "israeli occupation"
cant have an occupation when the occupying army doesnt control land movement, movement of goods from other countries (egypt), movement of people to egypt etc. Israel doesnt but hamas does....and this includes their checkpoints.

[breakaleg]

20. So Palestinians are now free to fish and enter / leave Gaza for other countries by sea?

[pelsar]

21. yep....

seems many gazans left gaza by sea to egypt..... (though it is rather limited)

cant have an "occupation" if one full border is not in control of the "occupier'...unless of course one considers hamas the occupier..which the PA does.

so do you agree withe Abbas and the PA that hamas is now occupying Gaza?

[Scurrilous]

12. Rafah Agreement - Agreed Principles for Rafah Crossing

http://www.miftah.org/Display.cfm?DocId=8895&CategoryId=7

In a nutshell, nothing moves between Gaza and Egypt without the consent of Israel.

[Solo_in_MD]

13. Any indication currently or prviously that the GoI will not allow food or fuel to sent to Gaza?

The current supplier of fuel is a private company, not the GoI. The only time they have withheld it in the past is lack of payment.

[Tom Joad]

14. Israel does not have responsibility? Then it must end the siege.

Ports must reopen. They must allow the airport to reopen.

Until then, the world recognizes that Israel has a responsibility for the welfare of the people of Gaza.

It also owes the people of Gaza much for 40 years of illegal occupation.

[Solo_in_MD]

16. Egypt has the primary responsibility, and it has abandoned Gaza

[pelsar]

18. sieges are generally considered

when one has 100% encircled the people being seiged....one look at a map on june 18, 2007 shows egypt and hamas sharing a border with no israel influence or israeli in sight, nor europeans.

care to address the egyptian responsability in this issue?...i dont believe it has been addressed yet.

[Scurrilous]

15. They're letting fuel in:

<snip>

"Entry to the Gaza Strip from Israel is otherwise forbidden. A military official said Sunday that for the time being, no coordination of any kind is taking place between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including in humanitarian cases.

"There is nobody to talk to, and there is total disconnection from the Palestinian side," the official said.

However, officials at the Erez Crossing liaison office made it clear Sunday that the army does not object to the transfer of fuel distillates to the strip through the Karni Crossing.

Sources there claimed Sunday that permission was granted for a tanker carrying 500 liters of fuel to enter the strip through Karni."

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/871953.html

[pelsar]

17. June 18, 2007

Hamas is now sitting in rafah...there are no Europeans, no israelis...just the eyptians on one side, hamas on the other......

israel has no influence on hamas, nor do they "take orders" from israel....