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| Middle East |
| Poverty in Palestinian Territories slows Ramadan celebrations |
| 2003-10-28 |
| Transcript from ABC (Australia, that is) "The World Today." Delicious. ELIZABETH JACKSON: Staying in the Middle East, and as we’ve already heard today, the holy Muslim month of Ramadan has begun in the Palestinian Territories, and for the fourth year running it’s a time of gloom. With Palestinian cities under Israeli Army blockade, and three-quarters of Palestinian families living in poverty, this year’s fasting period is a reminder of ongoing hardship. How ’bout telling your listeners why that might be, Libbie? Our Middle East Correspondent, Mark Willacy, reports from Jerusalem. (car MARK WILLACY: Preparing for the daily fast and the nightly feast, Palestinians have been stocking up on nice meats and sweet lollies, traditionally consumed after sunset. But again this year, many families simply can’t afford to splash out on fancy food. Farm life ain’t what it used to be. In the West Bank, unemployment is running at about 50 per cent, and three-quarters of families live on less than AU$4 a day. And instead of telling everyone why that might be, we get ... In his Ramallah bakery, Hatim Ahmed is making the traditional Ramadan sweets. But again, this year business is poor. HATIM AHMED: Actually, this Ramadan we are not optimistic about it because of the closures and the people, the works, all the businesses slow down and most of the workers doesn’t go to their works, they don’t have any money. I hope and we pray for God MARK WILLACY: Ramallah, like other Palestinian cities in the West Bank, is under Israeli Army blockade. This mean people can’t travel outside for work or to join family in surrounding villages for the nightly feast. The situation is even worse in Hebron. (noises from In Hebron, Palestinians find it difficult moving around the city centre, let alone outside. The reason is that 400 Jewish settler families live here and they need the protection of Israeli Army units. So the more than 100,000 Palestinian residents are restricted in where they can go to shop. ’cause they have a tendency to explode without warning. HATIM AHMED: But in these recent days, because people are suffering from a lot of problems, most of them is economical problems, they are not exactly ready to receive Ramadan with the same excitement and the same, let’s say, happiness. And do we get an explanation of "cause and effect" from ABC? No-o-o-o, instead we get ... MARK WILLACY: The World Bank estimates that even if the violence stops and things get back to normal, then it will still take at least two years for the Palestinian economy to recover to pre-Intifada levels. Remember, "normal" in this context means that the whole West Bank would be just your average third-world shithole, instead of the extra-special shithole that it is. This is Mark Willacy in Jerusalem for The World Today. You could have filed this report from Sydney. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #14 Oh, I forgot. Today I spent awhile hanging out at the Chiang Mai moskkk (I like that spelling!). I had my lunch, Bacon Double Cheese Whopper & large Freedom Fries & large Coke, and when the loudspeaker fired up to call 'em to prayers, I made myself comfortable on the corner next to the entrance and had my lunch. I made lots of yummy-nummy noises and enjoyed it thoroughly. I don't think the Mooslims did, though... I'd imagine that 3:00 PM during Ramaphrickindan is just about the low point of the day. Think I'll do it again tomorrow - only pizza. Italian sausage is my favorite. |
| Posted by: .com 2003-10-28 2:09:33 PM |
| #13 Arafish, since he's skimmed off so much of the cash "meant for the Palestinian people" (whoever they are), could certainly afford to order up some fruit baskets or something, doncha think? |
| Posted by: .com 2003-10-28 1:43:07 PM |
| #12 Poverty may be hurting their Ramadam celebration but Islam is really their most horrible persecutor. |
| Posted by: mhw 2003-10-28 1:01:56 PM |
| #11 Big damn deal. So Palestinians' celebration of Ramadan is being sullied by poverty. Think that Arafart is going to get the blame (as he should) for this? I doubt it. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-10-28 12:54:42 PM |
| #10 If this is supposed to make me feel bad it.....doesn't. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-10-28 12:53:57 PM |
| #9 "This might be the saddest Ramadan ever." -Little Mamood boo frickin' hoo (How come we always had to refrain from going to war in the middle east during Ramadan, but its perfectly ok for arab insurgents to fight/bomb us durind this happy time?) |
| Posted by: ---------<<<<-- 2003-10-28 12:52:43 PM |
| #8 I stand corrected, and thanks Bulldog! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-10-28 11:42:17 AM |
| #7 Nooooo! Frank G, that was Ralph Wiggum: "Me fail English? That's unpossible!" And you can hear it here (english.wav) PS Glad to hear you're OK, after the incident at your home. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-10-28 11:40:19 AM |
| #6 "But in these recent days, because people are suffering from a lot of problems, most of them is economical problems" Bart Simpson: "Me fail English? That are impossible!" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-10-28 11:14:04 AM |
| #5 Boo-freakin'-hoo. Tough shitskies, comrade. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-10-28 10:54:06 AM |
| #4 ABC: Absolute Bull Crap. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-10-28 9:47:59 AM |
| #3 I once cried because I had no shoes. Then I watched a news cast that had no credibility... oh well, back to sponge bob! |
| Posted by: FlungDung 2003-10-28 9:43:26 AM |
| #2 You could have filed this report from Sydney. I secretly suspect that he did. Jason Blair anyone? Whenever I hear those "horn honking" noises and the other overused background sound-tracks like, cooking noises, babies crying, sheep bleating, oh...and always the one that sounds like someone is digging.... I envision those 1940's radio guys - walking the shoes with their hands and making squeaking door sounds. If NPR etc. reporters ever bothered to do any real reporting, they wouldn't need those phony background noises to keep our attention and convince us that they are on scene. |
| Posted by: B 2003-10-28 3:03:22 AM |
| #1 Yes, cause and effect will get you every time. |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2003-10-28 2:43:39 AM |