Pro-Israel hasbarists are fond of arguing that Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2004 and doesn’t occupy it. This usually goes hand in hand with the argument that Hamas fighters who rocket southern Israel have no justification for doing so since Israel gave up any territorial claim in Gaza in 2004. In other words, the only possible reason for Hamas to attack Israel is to pursue its exterminationist vision of eliminating the Jewish state.
For anyone who’s ever entertained this pro-Israel argument in their own mind read this:
Israel has agreed to grant United Nations secretary general and the European Union’s foreign policy commissioner entry visas into the Gaza Strip, the first time it has acceded to such a request from international officials since Operation Cast Lead in December 2008.
The Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that the two unusual entry permits were granted to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the European Union’s foreign policy commissioner Catherine Ashton.
“In response to the unique requested submitted by the UN chief, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and the EU Foreign Policy commissioner, Lady Catherine Ashton, Israel has decided to permit their entrance into the Gaza Strip for close inspection of humanitarian aide work,” the Ministry’s statement wrote.
If Israel doesn’t control Gaza then how do you explain the fact that it refuses to allow free access to it? Not only as august international leaders as Ban Ki Moon and others are usually denied access. Even Israeli journalists cannot cover Gaza and it is a crime for ordinary Israeli to travel there as Jeff Halper discovered when he was arrested for doing so. International peace activists have to sail ships there evading violent maneuvers of the Israeli navy.
For those of you who are a tad cynical about Israel’s motives in doing any ostensibly good deed, the MFA doesn’t disappoint on this one either:
The reason for the unusual permits is reportedly to ease the international pressure on Israel relating to blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Got that? This is yet another pure hasbara move so that Israel can turn around the next time anyone complains about how badly it is treating the Gazans and say: “but we ARE concerned, why else would we let Ban and Lady Ashton in to see the UN’s good works there.”
The next time there’s a major disaster in a Third World country like Haiti, I wish Israel would send the team to Gaza instead if it truly had any humanitarian motivation. The truth is that Israel understands the suffering of those who live far away and with whom it never has to live or deal. Those who live next door are another story.
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"If Israel doesn’t control Gaza then how do you explain the fact that it refuses to allow free access to it?"
I controls it if Israel's rights are concerned and doesn't control it if its obligations are concerned. Even if both applies at exactly the same time and place. No problem, if you're good enough at doublethink.
Israel cannot allow free entry and exit to Gaza because hamas holds an Israeli hostage.
But apart from Gilad Shalit, Israel does not usually have soldiers inside Gaza. So, unless you prove Gilad Shalit is controlling Gaza, Israel's not controlling Gaza. Just it's borders, and for a good reason.
Gilad Shalit is a prisoner of war who was captured while engaged in an attack. The civilians that Israel kidnaps and holds as "bargaining chips" are hostages.
What utter bullcrap. Having soldiers inside Gaza is not a measure of whether it controls Gaza. As the article makes clear, Israel is blockading Gaza & determining who can & cannot enter. Under international law this constitutes control. So pls. don't spout ignornance here as at least 30-40 commenters have made the same error here in stating the same ignorant erroneous view you have.
Gaza's a prison pure and simple and Israel's Foreign Ministry is the warden.
"The truth is that Israel understands the suffering of those who live far away and with whom it never has to live or deal. Those who live next door are another story."
But sending the IDF hospital to disaster zones is such good PR when you consider what the IDF did and is doing in Gaza.
So does Israel understand suffering? Only if Israelis are willing to spend 4 years subjected to a blockade on trade and have their borders shut down and controlled by a foreign military.
I'll use the author's language – this is bullcrap and just another post to bash Israel. Israel has a 'border' with Gaza and does not have to let anyone cross it. It has nothing to do with controlling Gaza or not. Why should Israel allow full passage across this border exactly? There is no free passage between Lebanon, does Israel control that? Syria allows apples to cross at Quneitra, but officially that is not even a border crossing either.
And frankly, no one bashes Egypt for controlling her side of the border, or I must have missed those posts here.
The U.S. has borders with Mexico & Canada & if it didn't allow anyone to cross it then it would be considered an act of deep hostility if not war against that country. Israel may have a right to determine who enters Israel from Gaza but it has no right to determine who enters Gaza. Doing so renders this an occupation under international law. Period. It's just that simple.
Lebanese has other means to enter & exit their country than the Israeli border. If that border was the only way to do so then yes, Israel would in effect be occupying Lebanon.
"Israel has a 'border' with Gaza and does not have to let anyone cross it.,/i>"
Is the Mediterranean also part of Israel's border with Gaza?
Egypt has only limited control over the situation, and only limited sovereignty on the Sinai. And still, yes we do 'bash' Egypt for playing accomplice to Israel.
Hey Ricki love.
those damn meanie Harborlights. i keep telling people that if i want to enter the USA from Canada, i am not controlled first by Canada and then the US authorities. i can just stroll across. its the same when in Europe, when you go from England to France etc. nobody stops you. Anybody can go over. those irritating Israelis (illiteration again-still feel free to use it) are such meanies having control! Hummous should send more rockets.
Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 not 2004.
I brought up ur point with one of our local ziothugs and he asked why Egypt doesnt let in aid from Sinai. He also said that Egypt has full sovereingty over Sinai. How do I undermine his argument? The UN could really embarass Egypt by asking access to Gaza as well