After six days of strangulation, thousands of Gazans dramatically entered Egypt Wednesday morning after a border wall was blasted open. Afterwards, Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak claimed to allow the Palestinians entry so as to not starve, though he has – up to this point – shown little concern for Palestinian lives while willingly enforcing Israel’s blockade. In particular, he has refused entry of critically ill Palestinians and passage of goods despite warnings by countless humanitarian organizations of the threat to life. Coincidentally, Mubarak’s change in heart came simultaneously with the Palestinian breach in the border wall, and subsequent mass influx of Palestinians. Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres has lashed out at the Palestinians for not obediantly accepting their own starvation, alleging that the entry of Palestinian civilians into Egypt for food and fuel is a mistake responsible for “killing people.” Apparently, the Israeli President believes that Palestinian survival is a mistake.
Related posts:
- 1 Minute to Help 1.5 Million Gazans
- Break Me Off a PEACE of that Kit Kat Bar!
- Gaza, the Prison
- Palestinian Peace Initiative Launched From Prison
- Sharon Remains in Coma Since Spring Break, and The Hammer Got Nailed
Here’s to explosives: the cause of— and solution to— all of life’s problems.
Posted by Hamas J. Simpson | January 23, 2008, 10:04 amMeanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres has lashed out at the Palestinians for not obediantly accepting their own starvation
Shenanigans.
Please fix your link so I can see what you’re misrepresenting.
Posted by Roy | January 23, 2008, 10:11 amtry it now, Peres – who looks half asleep as usual – is at the end of the video.
Posted by Fadi | January 23, 2008, 10:19 amWhat a surprise. Peres didn’t say anything close to what you claimed.
He simply called it a mistake. As in, you could have stopped the rockets and started being peaceful, but you instead chose to solve this — as every — problem with explosives and continued hostility.
Posted by Roy | January 23, 2008, 10:36 amWell Roy, here’s a transcript:
“It’s another mistake, added to the long list of mistakes which are unfortunate because the mistakes are killing people.”
Goodbye.
Posted by Fadi | January 23, 2008, 10:41 amAs I said, said nothing about wishing the Palestinians would just sit back and starve.
That’s entirely your dishonest insertion, Fadi. You reflect badly on Kabobfest. But then, so does every Kabobfester.
Posted by Roy | January 23, 2008, 10:52 amYes, I put my own analsyis in there – this is a blog not a news site, not sure if you heard about this whole blog revoltuion that’s taking place. I do it to evoke responses from readers.
Mission accomplished.
Posted by Fadi | January 23, 2008, 10:59 amFadi 1, Roy 0
Posted by programmer greg | January 23, 2008, 11:05 amFadi pretty much took you to school Roy. I suggest posting under another screen name moving forward.
Posted by Pali-American | January 23, 2008, 8:46 amApparently, the Israeli President believes that Palestinian survival is a mistake.
Apparently, Palestinians think that television sets, mobile phones and cigarettes are what they really need, to survive.
Fadi, how many critically ill Palestinians were evacuated to Egyptian hospitals so far?
Posted by programmer craig | January 23, 2008, 1:20 pm“pali-american”, only one person I know of from the blogs has always mistaken my name for “greg”, and it’s the person I’ve thought you probably were from the beginning. Why don’t you stop pretending your Palestinian and start using your actual blogger profile? That’s what they are for, aren’t they?
Posted by programmer craig | January 23, 2008, 1:23 pmProgrammed Crackhead, why don’t you: (i) put down the pipe, (ii)stop having sex with your sister, (iii) stop being racist and (iv) and convice your mom to stop turning tricks. Starbuck is hiring.
Posted by Pali-American | January 23, 2008, 1:28 pm“Fadi, how many critically ill Palestinians were evacuated to Egyptian hospitals so far?”
None, it was all part of the Palestinian ploy to get cigarettes. You caught us Craig. Seriously, you’re so amazing, what an amazing mind, we can’t slip ANYTHING by you.
Palestinians of the world, they’re on to us. This amazing mind.. this programmer craig guy, he’s figured it all out. Guess we have no need for those ambulances anymore, and all those fake injuries and what not.
(Yes, Craig, we’re all laughing at you)
Posted by Fadi | January 23, 2008, 1:32 pmThis kinda reminds me of New Orleans during Katrina, when people caught in the worst Hurricane in US history broke into stores to steal furniture and household appliances. Except the poor Palestinians aren’t actually that poor, it seems. They pay cash for their new toys. It really makes you proud, Fadi?
Posted by programmer craig | January 23, 2008, 1:32 pm“Except the poor Palestinians aren’t actually that poor, it seems.”
You’re right. Gaza is the affluent suburb of Tel Aviv. That 80% unemployment is because the residents of Gaza come from old money, they don’t need no jobs Craig.
Posted by Fadi | January 23, 2008, 1:34 pmStarbuck is hiring.
Yeah? What happened? You lost your job? Thanks for the tip, I’ll let my gardener know.
Posted by programmer craig | January 23, 2008, 1:36 pmthey don’t need no jobs Craig.
That’s too bad. Starbucks is hiring.
You ever been to an actual poor country, Fadi? You ever been to Tijuana, even? There are a lot of things you can try and get sympathy for Palestinians on, but poverty isn’t one of em.
Posted by programmer craig | January 23, 2008, 1:39 pm(Yes, Craig, we're all laughing at you)Looks to me like you're changing the subject.
Posted by programmer craig | January 23, 2008, 9:41 amI put my own analsyis in there
Misrepresentation is not analysis. That’s another thing you misrepresented. Do you have any ability to understand factual communication?
“It’s a blog” does not mean you can just lie and not be called on it.
Posted by Roy | January 23, 2008, 1:47 pmRoy, you’re acting like a sore loser. I’ll dumb it down a bit for you. Factually, Peres lashed out at the Palestinians for blowing a hole in the wall to get out of Gaza to Egypt. In my analysis, this “desperate act by a desperate people” (as said by Jon Ging, director of UNRWA in Gaza), amounts to a refusal to starve. Thus, in my analysis, Peres is lashing out at the Palestinians for not accepting starvation. Get it? You’re welcome.
Posted by Fadi | January 23, 2008, 1:59 pmYour Gardener Programmed Crackhead? Is he a US citizen? Also, does he smoke crack, like you?Yes, Gaza is a rich suburb of Tel Aviv filled with people who pretend to be poor and oppressed only to obtain more cigaretts.The Starbucks is hiring comment was directed at your mom anyway, i heard she still turns tricks in N. Cali. Sad, PC, sad.
Posted by Pali-American | January 23, 2008, 10:03 amRoy, you’re acting like a sore loser.
In what way? Your name-calling and insults don’t advance your case at all. Standing by my position doesn’t make me sore or a loser.
Peres simply gave his analysis. Is analysis subject to criticism, or is it not? If it is, then stop whining when I criticize yours; if it’s not, then you shouldn’t have criticized his.
In my analysis, this “desperate act by a desperate people” (as said by Jon Ging, director of UNRWA in Gaza), amounts to a refusal to starve.
They weren’t desperate enough to stop rocket attacks, though, although that was quite publicly stated to be the key to ending the blockade. How desperate would they have to be to stop their wanton bloodlust?
It doesn’t matter. Thankfully, they’ll never have to be that desperate. Not while they have explosives to solve all their problems.
Posted by Roy | January 23, 2008, 2:06 pmFadi 2, Roy 0
Posted by progammer greg | January 23, 2008, 10:07 amCritizing his analysis? Where? All you’re doing is calling him a liar and accusing him of misrepresentations.
Posted by Roy's Mom | January 23, 2008, 2:10 pmCritizing his analysis? Where? All you’re doing is calling him a liar and accusing him of misrepresentations.
Posted by Roy's Mom | January 23, 2008, 2:10 pmomg the palestinians are so badass… i’m sure this will somehow turn into a diatribe about those crazy violent arabs. when you’re stuck in a prison, sometimes you have to break out for a day just to remember that you actually exist. much love to the gazans
Posted by dj-jas | January 23, 2008, 2:14 pmThank you, detractors. The fact that you can only snark at me, rather than addressing the substance of my arguments, suggests that I’m on pretty solid ground.
Posted by Roy | January 23, 2008, 2:18 pmas said by Jon Ging, director of UNRWA in Gaza)
How come Palestinians get a permanently assigned UN agency that exists for the sole purpose of administering international aid aka welfare?
They don’t have that shit in Tijuana, man. If that happened in Tijuana, the Palestinians with the televisions and mobile phones would have been stabbed and robbed by the ones without. I’m gonna ask again, Fadi… ever been to Tijuana? Ever been to a country that is so poor that parents sell their own children into prostitution? Ever been to a country where lack of electricity is no big deal, because they’ve never had electricity and don’t even really understand what it is?
Posted by programmer craig | January 23, 2008, 2:30 pmImagine a country so poor that the people don’t even have rockets to launch across the border.
It almost makes you weep.
Posted by Roy | January 23, 2008, 2:33 pmWhat’s your point? That there are worse places in this world than Gaza? Ok, so what? Are we going to sit here and start comparing who has it worse in this world? Is oppression and suffering something relative? Of course not. The inhabitants of Gaza are impoverished, and the overwhelming majority do suffer. Factually, more than 60% of Gazans are below the poverty line.
Posted by Fadi | January 23, 2008, 3:10 pmWhat’s your point? That there are worse places in this world than Gaza?
As a matter of fact, that’s exactly my point, Fadi.
Is oppression and suffering something relative?
Apparently it is, since there are stories in the international press about suffering Palestinians, every single day. Why is the whole world’s attention focussed on a few million Palestinians, when there are probably 2 billion people on this planet who would gladly change places with them?
Posted by programmer craig | January 23, 2008, 3:36 pmNO! wrong score! it was
Fadi 3, Roy 0
Fadi 1, Programmed Crackhead 0
Fadi your game is on!!
and yes I think Palestinians in Gaza absolutely have NO right whatsoever to feel sorry for because they’re not in Latin America. Shame on you! They’re not Tijuana
I love how Programmed Crackhead is fascinated with Tijuana, it rhymes with Marijuana!
Posted by omar | January 23, 2008, 4:20 pmCraig asked how many critically ill Palestinians were evacuated to Egyptian hospitals so far..
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080124/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians
Four Palestinians in wheelchairs were pushed over the border, where ambulances picked them up for treatment in Egypt.
And I’m sure there were more than that.
Posted by ally | January 23, 2008, 4:45 pmI love how Programmed Crackhead has that stupid little ax on his profile so we can easily skip over his posts. Anytime now, Roy…
Posted by Safiyyah | January 23, 2008, 7:46 pmIt’s great the way you guys “declare victory” on the internet, just like real life.
Much easier to post things like “Jahidis 826, Everyone else 0″ than to actually talk about how pathetic this little drama is. First it was all about the non-existent war crimes, then it was about how Palestinians overcame the cruel Israelis by invading… Egypt.
One more farce. Just what the world needs. And meanwhile, in the real world, billions of people really ARE trying to survive without UNRWA and the “sympathy” of the whole world. I put sympathy in quotes, Omar, because I question how much the public displays of sympathy are sincere, at this point in time. I don’t think even the Arab World gives much of a shit any more, and the Iranians sure as hell don’t care about Arabs except when they have something to gain.
Posted by programmer craig | January 24, 2008, 3:36 amThe inhabitants of Gaza are impoverished, and the overwhelming majority do suffer.
And what do they do to change that? Lob rockets into Israel. Because that’s how you get your neighbors to help you.
Israel! Treat us better! We’re poor! We can hardly afford anything except huge numbers of rockets!
Posted by Roy | January 24, 2008, 4:10 amPC. Why don’t move your ass from infront of your computer and take a trip to Gaza. Get a taste of the life of those filthy rich Gazans.
Posted by b-cell | January 24, 2008, 5:37 amaaaand who said we’re expecting Iranians to give a damn in the first place? Who mentioned Iranians anyway?
and yes Arabs do give a shit, don’t just blabber without knowing. The government doesn’t always represent the people. But hey, I respect you said “I think”…but it’s not the truth.
Posted by omar | January 24, 2008, 5:39 amRoy I don’t think you’re in a position to be lecturing the Palestinian suffering population on how to be “peaceful” anymore. “Peaceful” doesn’t work with Israel, and never will…They don’t want Peace, they think the idea of Palestinians existing is wrong from the first place. So Rockets, bullets and other sorts of resistance is completely legal in my point of view – It’s not killing innocent people, because to what I know Israel is FAR from innocent (not the kids though, nor the civils in general).
You haven’t seen not even a freakin’ fraction of what the Palestinian population witnessed – it’s been 60 damn years, 60! And they’re having this constant struggle.
I wonder if you’re a kid who grew up in a neighbourhood where you should learn to expect that your best friend, family member or whoever might die in a matter of seconds, you’d absolutely have a different perspective to the matter.
So, please, I beg of you, spare us the peace talk and the preaching. When someone fights, you do know you have to fight back. But what do you know, you didn’t live there…
Posted by omar | January 24, 2008, 5:46 am“Why is the whole world’s attention focussed on a few million Jews, when there are probably 2 billion people on this planet who would gladly change places with them?”, is probably what the Nazis said back in the 40′s.
Gaza is after all just one large concentration camp.The only difference is that the extermination is taking place much more slowly.
Posted by Angelique | January 24, 2008, 7:08 am“Peaceful” doesn’t work with Israel, and never will…
On what do you base that claim? Israel has made peace with most of its neighbors. It works fine. Palestinians have never tried being peaceful.
Is it your opinion that rocket attacks on civilians work better?
You haven’t seen not even a freakin’ fraction of what the Palestinian population witnessed
I haven’t committed a freakin’ fraction of the violence of what the Palestinian population has committed and relentlessly celebrated, either. They reap only what they sow.
You haven’t made a single coherent point. What rocket attacks by Palestinians aren’t against civilians and children? How can you say shit like “It’s not killing innocent people, because to what I know Israel is FAR from innocent” and pretend that the exact same thing can’t be said of the Palestinians?
Do you deny that the blockade would have been lifted if the rocket attacks had stopped? Do you realize that breaking the blockade and continuing the rocket attacks means that Israel has to come up with some other means to defend itself?
Do you realize that means that more people are going to die? Are you in favor of that? Is it that important to you that Hamas continue to lauch rockets into civilian areas?
Posted by Roy | January 24, 2008, 8:02 amGaza is after all just one large concentration camp.The only difference is that the extermination is taking place much more slowly.
Kind of like the extermination of America. People are dying here! It’s a death camp!
Israel isn’t exterminating Palestinians. It is responding to the actions that Hamas is taking to back up its professed desire to exterminate Israel.
It’s called war. Gazans want it. That’s why they don’t end it.
West Bankers don’t want it, and they ended it.
Posted by Roy | January 24, 2008, 8:07 am“West Bankers don’t want it, and they ended it.”
Oh yaaa, and life in the West Bank is just great right now – the Israelis have shut down the checkpoints, done away with the wall, and removed their illegal settlements, right? Thanks for making our case Roy.
Posted by Anonymous | January 24, 2008, 8:12 amOh yaaa, and life in the West Bank is just great right now -
Better or worse than in Gaza?
Is the difference between them shrinking or growing?
The microwaving-instant-coffee mentality of “it should all be perfect the instant the fighting stops” is profoundly stupid.
It’s nice to know that you don’t have unreasonable expectations.
Posted by Roy | January 24, 2008, 9:05 amtheir neighbours are not directly harmed by them, they didn't take away their lands and kill their people, so therefore you're comparing two complete different cases.*sigh* Discussing (or rather arguing) this matter over with you is pointless, you'll keep to believe that Palestinians are the evil ones, anyone who aspires for the freedom of Palestine is a supporter of Hamas and rockets shall be the only thing you're talking about, although I would love for you to highlight out the number of Israelis that died from these rockets, and the terrible consequences of Israel's constant retaliation…
Posted by omar | January 24, 2008, 5:21 amtheir neighbours are not directly harmed by them
They were at war, they settled their differences.
Discussing (or rather arguing) this matter over with you is pointless
Because I’m intransigent. Right. You’re not. You’re completely open-minded about it. Is that what you’re saying?
Look, I’ve asked some questions, and you’ve avoided every one of them. Like all your double-standard comrades, you pooh-pooh the rocket attacks, but consider them too important to stop.
You claim that I’m too closed-minded to argue with so that you can escape from the argument. You haven’t even tried to reason with me. Just like you know that peace wouldn’t work for Palestinians, when they’ve never tried it.
The questions, if you’re up to answering them:
Is it your opinion that rocket attacks on civilians work better than negotiating for peace?
What rocket attacks by Palestinians aren’t against civilians and children?
Do you deny that the blockade would have been lifted if the rocket attacks had stopped?
Do you realize that breaking the blockade and continuing the rocket attacks means that Israel has to come up with some other means to defend itself?
Do you realize that means that more people are going to die? Are you in favor of that? Is it that important to you that Hamas continue to lauch rockets into civilian areas?
Respond to these in a way that illustrates your superior grasp of the situation. Edumacate me. I want to learn.
Posted by Roy | January 24, 2008, 9:51 amThe Palestinians need to stop fighting. Once they stop fighting, we’ll treat them just like we do in the West Bank. Basically, the Palestinians need to stop fighting so we can continue colonizing their land with our settlements and checkpoints in peace! Why can’t they understand that! We (Israel) have a right to colonize their land in peace!
Posted by roy's mentor | January 24, 2008, 10:13 amThe Palestinians need to stop fighting. Once they stop fighting, we’ll treat them just like we do in the West Bank. Basically, the Palestinians need to stop fighting so we can continue colonizing their land with our settlements and checkpoints in peace! Why can’t they understand that! We (Israel) have a right to colonize their land in peace!
Posted by roy's mentor | January 24, 2008, 10:13 amThe Palestinians need to stop fighting. Once they stop fighting, we’ll treat them just like we do in the West Bank. Basically, the Palestinians need to stop fighting so we can continue colonizing their land with our settlements and checkpoints in peace! Why can’t they understand that! We (Israel) have a right to colonize their land in peace!
Posted by roy's mentor | January 24, 2008, 10:13 amThe Palestinians need to stop fighting. Once they stop fighting, we’ll treat them just like we do in the West Bank. Basically, the Palestinians need to stop fighting so we can continue colonizing their land with our settlements and checkpoints in peace! Why can’t they understand that! We (Israel) have a right to colonize their land in peace!
Posted by roy's mentor | January 24, 2008, 10:13 am