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| Israel-Palestine |
| Gazans Celebrate First Day of Freedom |
| 2005-09-12 |
| If this AP story title isn't infuriating enough... Screw the Road Map Palestinian boys waded fully clothed into the Mediterranean on once-forbidden beaches. Parents guided children through demolished Jewish settlements, where scavengers grabbed everything from red roof tiles to light posts. Hundreds climbed over a wall separating Gaza and Egypt to reunite with relatives. Gaza's Palestinians got their first taste of freedom after Israeli troops left the coastal strip Monday. They took full possession of the territory for the first time following hundreds of years of subjugation by the Ottoman Empire, the British, the Egyptians and finally the Israelis. ''These are days of glory,'' Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas declared. But he warned of the long road ahead to Palestinian statehood. The storming of the Egyptian border marred the celebrations, as did a series of deaths. The Palestinians who clamored over the walls included Islamic militants waving the green Hamas flag, raising Israeli concerns about whether Palestinian and Egyptian security can control the territory and its border. Egyptian border guards shot and killed one Palestinian; four others, who did not know how to swim, drowned after jumping into the ocean, Palestinian health officials said. Yet for one day, euphoria poured over this overcrowded and economically depressed sliver of land. Traffic jams paralyzed Gaza as Palestinians marveled at the remnants of Israel's 38-year occupation and went to places that had been off limits for years. ''Since last night, I have been in the street, for no reason, just to breathe the air of freedom,'' said Samir Khader, a farmer in northern Gaza who had needed Israeli permits to go in and out of his village, flanked by Jewish settlements. ''I don't know what the future will bring, but at least, I can come in and out of my house at any time.'' |
| Posted by:Captain America |
| #4 I might also add that by looking at the map, you see the instant contrast between the amazing development years of Israeli labor has done to their side, while the Paleo side has remained as desolate as it ever was. The only difference was that the Israelis used their money wisely, and the Paleos wasted theirs on corrupt leaders and hatred. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-09-12 23:21 |
| #3 The first thing the IDF should do is immediately install counter mortar-arty/counter rocket lasers in an overlapping pattern along the entire Gaza border facing Israeli populated areas. If they have not done so already, they are remiss. The technology exists, the Israelis certainly have it. The also have the industries that can make it, and they should easily be able to afford it. Here is a large scale map of the area. It should be abundantly clear where just a few of those weapons could counter most of what the Gazans could throw at them: http://tinyurl.com/79r2p |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-09-12 23:17 |
| #2 No jobs, no future. Just shooting off AKs in the air. Hmmmm...sounds a lot like NO. Maybe we can follow the Israeli model, you think? |
| Posted by: Phereque Omineger4095 2005-09-12 22:08 |
| #1 "Four [Palestinians], who did not know how to swim, drowned after jumping into the ocean." I hereby present today's Darwin Award candidates! |
| Posted by: Scooter McGruder 2005-09-12 21:41 |