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6 Responses to “Gaza ‘Like a Bomb Ready to Explode’”

1. Donald says:

   June 13, 2008 at 8:01 AM

   “But earlier your statements suggested that the closure policy actually seemed to be influencing people against Hamas. If the brakes had not been applied economically to fuel and non-essentials, then Hamas might not be feeling this pressure, no?”

   That wasn’t in boldface, but was apparently from the interviewer. Anyway, it was really creepy and unintentionally revealing. People in the US go hysterical over the proposal to boycott Israeli universities (an idea which I also oppose), but the blockade on Gaza is 1000 times worse and this interviewer obviously thinks it’s a legitimate tactic, to be judged successful if it has made people put pressure on Hamas.

   A lot of Westerners are much closer to the terrorist mindset than they ever let themselves realize.

   Reply
2. neurodoc says:

   June 13, 2008 at 7:33 PM

   “I’ve been meeting with the senior leaders of Hamas the past week and they all are interested in reconciliation, period, there is a sense of desperation from Hamas for reconciliation.”

   What does that mean? With whom does Hamas seek reconciliation, and how is Hamas going about it? Surely it isn’t with the Jewish state, whose destruction is its sworn mission. With Gazans?

   Reply
3. Richard Silverstein says:

   June 13, 2008 at 8:28 PM

   @neurodoc: If you read the original article she makes clear that she’s talking about reconcilation bet. Fatah & Hamas. When there is talk about negotiation bet. Hamas & Israel no one ever uses the term “reconciliation” as that would be a far too optimistic term to use.

   Reply
4. John Yorke says:

   June 14, 2008 at 2:13 AM

   ‘The Israeli siege reminds me of a donkey owner who decides the best way to get his animal to move is by beating it mercilessly with a stick. Of course, this only makes the animal dig in its heels. Have you ever tried to move a stubborn donkey? It never occurred to the man to try a carrot.’

   With a donkey, the carrot technique might work. With Man, it’s never that simple; there are some situations where employing both the carrot and the stick is the only way forward. Each method, of itself, possesses insufficient leverage to act upon the situation. But, when fused together, they often provide an unstoppable combination, one in which things really can get moving again.

   And at quite a fair old pace as well.

   http://yorketowers.blogspot.com

   Reply
5. Suzanne says:

   June 14, 2008 at 5:36 PM

   Very good interview- thanks for pointing to it.

   The Fulbright scholarship episode was so indicative. You have to wonder if those with the power to make changes really want change especially if it means they lose their power or their maximalist goals.

   Everyone is working so hard to stay stuck – the U.S., Israel, Fatah, Hamas. Everybody.

   So in Israel and the US some probably feel the seige/squeeze is working then and so israel can bear the bad press. The status quo is just fine for israel and the painful stuff need not be addressed, nothing given up or compromised.

   So Will Hamas actually moderate itself (cry uncle)? Will the factions give up their addiction to guns and revenge for the sake of the whole and a future?

   The last intifada the situation was similar in that the people were so angry with corrupt Fatah as well as Israel but people took it out on Israel because that was more acceptable. This suits the factions. So perhaps the next explosion will be deja vu Explosion will provoke justifications in Israel, itching to go into Gaza to “clean the place out- once and for all”- “teach them a lesson”.

   This is how things get bloody unstuck- before they get stuck again- more death and destruction. A way of life as David Grossman would put it.

   You can’t be optimistic based on recent history. And so everything is pinned on the right convergence of leadership coming along one of these days again.

   Reply
6. Suzanne says:

   June 15, 2008 at 6:30 AM

   Ethan Bronner has a companion piece in today’s NYT -with El -Khodary contributing:

   http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/world/middleeast/15gaza.html?_r

   Reply