Egyptian president meets Gaza Hamas' PM, aim to reduce the blockade

[hellheaven1987]

An expected move, wonder whether Egypt would cooperate with Turkey soon or later.

Egypt's President Mohammed Mursi has held talks with the head of the Hamas-led government in Gaza, Ismail Haniya.

They discussed "solutions" relating to the blockade on the coastal territory and "alleviating the suffering" of its residents, Egyptian officials said.

Mr Mursi's predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, complied with Israel's request to impose restrictions on Gaza after Hamas ousted the rival Fatah faction in 2007.

Hamas leaders hope Mr Mursi, who is a fellow Islamist, will end the blockade.

The Palestinian group was originally founded in the 1980s as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, to which Egypt's president belongs.

Source

Well, it is understandable that Hamas would hope President Mursi to end the blockade soon or later, although Egypt probably would allow that only if Hamas agrees some terms first, probably give up armed movement and forms some form of united government of Fatah in West Bank. It may also mean that once those terms be applied, Egypt may cooperate with Turkey to press international community to force Israel stops their illegal colonization in West Bank.

Mainwhile, IMF warns the economy of Palestine would crush soon or later.

The World Bank has said the recent economic growth in the Palestinian Territories is unsustainable because of its heavy reliance on foreign aid.

The Palestinian Authority had begun establishing institutions for a future state, but the economy was not strong enough to support it, a report warned.

It was critical to increase trade and spur private sector growth, it added.

The PA said last month it was facing a funding crisis, with debts of $1.5bn (£968m) and a cash shortfall of $500m.

The admission that civil servants would not be paid in July led some Palestinians to demand the dismantling of the PA, which was established under the 1994 Oslo Accords.

The World Bank said donor countries had propped up the Palestinian economy by giving the PA billions of dollars in aid, helping it achieve a 7.7% increase in GDP between 2007 and 2011.

But the report said the growth had only occurred in government services, real estate and other non-tradable sectors. The manufacturing and agriculture sectors had shrunk, and aid levels had begun to fall because of the global economic downturn, it noted.

Source

What IMF did not tell you is that Israel rob 86% of West Bank land, illegally of course.

he economic potential of Palestinian communities in the Jordan Valley area of the West Bank is being jeopardised by Israeli settlement activity, a report by the UK charity Oxfam says.

The study suggests Palestinians could generate an extra £1bn ($1.5bn) a year if restrictions to their use of land, water and movements were removed.

It says Palestinians can use only 6% of the land, while settlers control 86%.

Source

[Blaze86420]

Egypt should be applying pressure on the PA as well, for too long they have compromised Palestinian interests with their corruption, both politically and economically.

[Exarch]

wonder what the qataris are thinking, they reckon they can control the MB for now, they are just like the annoying venetians in my campaign. think they deserve to have an empire, but soon they'll be crushed into the dust

[motiv-8]

Egypt should be applying pressure on the PA as well, for too long they have compromised Palestinian interests with their corruption, both politically and economically.

Indeed Indeed, which is why foreign monetary contributions and humanitarian aid to Palestinians over this year has moved away from the PA and to Hamas, despite the track record of extremism and militancy. When Abbas's government moves to have Palestinian statehood recognized by the UN General Assembly in the near future, and the United States inevitably ends any and all aid to the Palestinian Authority as a result, the government in the West Bank will go absolutely bankrupt and there will be little option left but to have a full unity government with Hamas, to everyone's ultimate detriment.

[Sir Pignans]

Indeed Indeed, which is why foreign monetary contributions and humanitarian aid to Palestinians over this year has moved away from the PA and to Hamas, despite the track record of extremism and militancy. When Abbas's government moves to have Palestinian statehood recognized by the UN General Assembly in the near future, and the United States inevitably ends any and all aid to the Palestinian Authority as a result, the government in the West Bank will go absolutely bankrupt and there will be little option left but to have a full unity government with Hamas, to everyone's ultimate detriment.

I'm going to completely disagree here, I think reconciliation and a true unity government is exactly what Palestine needs. Unless I've misunderstood you of course.

[Sir Pignans]

I don't think Egypt will reduce the blockade in any meaningful way yet, they won't want to piss off Israel (and thus America) so soon into Mursi's new government.

[motiv-8]

A unity government isn't going to lead anywhere productive, it will only completely foreclose any peace initiative that is left, entrench positions, and give the Israeli right-wing and its people in Washington more excuse to carry out their destructive policies in the West Bank while exposing its civilians to more attack in return.

There's only two things that can dramatically change things for the better as far as the Palestinians go: the PA cleans up its act in record fashion to draw foreign investment and aid again (already a challenge given the limits Israel imposes), or Hamas lays down its weapons and moderates itself into a more or less normal political party like Fatah did. But then look where that got the PLO.

[hellheaven1987]

Hamas lays down its weapons and moderates itself into a more or less normal political party like Fatah did.

I am under the impression that is exactly what Egypt and Turkey want to see for Hamas, although to reach such stage both Egypt and Turkey probably need to give some sore of military guarantee to defend Gaza if Israel goes nut.

[Sir Pignans]

A unity government isn't going to lead anywhere productive,

I completely disagree, when looking at Palestine, I think a large amount of the problems that can be attributed to them are internal matters. Now, this is, at least, to me, is the most pressing issue at the moment, and to be frank, Israel can wait. What Palestine needs, at least, in my view, is to form a strong unity government with co-operation between Hamas and Fatah, this way they can pool their funding, Hamas may be bad and all, but let's face it, they do generate a lot of income via the smuggling tunnels, this the PA can invest in development and such, and with the co-operation of Hamas and Fatah, begin at least an attempt to purge the system of corruption. While in this unity government, Fatah officials need to start communicating with the moderates in the Hamas party, there are already signs that Hamas are becoming slightly better, with the creation of that anti-rocket force: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomac...srael-1.429297.

This combined with the fact that in the recent flair up in which Hamas itself admitted to firing rockets, it has directed fire at military bases, not civilian targets (confirmed by it's websites statements and this Israeli article: http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/east-si...emium-1.439939) may show a change of strategy for Hamas. Fatah officials may be able to sway more Hamas moderates into proposing changes such as recognising Israel. Now, this is by no means assured, but the main point of the unity government should be (and it supposedly will be) only an interim government in order to organise elections. This is vital. The Palestinian people can not remain divided amongst themselves while still trying to negotiate with Israel. The Palestinians need a clear leader to lead them. Once they do have a clear leader, it will be much do much better on the international scene, and will be able to pursue foreign aid with hopefully more ease.

it will only completely foreclose any peace initiative that is left, entrench positions, and give the Israeli right-wing and its people in Washington more excuse to carry out their destructive policies in the West Bank while exposing its civilians to more attack in return.

The settlements are a problem, but one that cannot realistically be seen as being stopped any time soon.

There's only two things that can dramatically change things for the better as far as the Palestinians go: the PA cleans up its act in record fashion to draw foreign investment and aid again (already a challenge given the limits Israel imposes), or Hamas lays down its weapons and moderates itself into a more or less normal political party like Fatah did. But then look where that got the PLO.

And I think the best way to achieve both these goals are via a unity government.

[motiv-8]

I admire your optimism, and truly I hope you're right, I just don't think it's going to play out like you hope. We shall see.

[Admiral Piett]

I agree. Hamas is still a believer in violence to achieve its goals. As long as armed mobs run the PLO, there will be no concerted effort to the peace process.

[Heinz Guderian]

Israel is also a strong believer in violence to achieve its goals. But Israeli violence is backed with American money and American state-of-the-art weaponry, not home brew rockets. Its a no win situation for Hamas. What the Palestinians need is a strong non-violence movement. Instead of sending the Palestinian arms, Egypt and Turkey should flood them with cameras. No Israelis should be harmed in the protest movement. Cameras will win the war for Hamas, not modified 10 dollar fireworks.

[Trey]

Israel is also a strong believer in violence to achieve its goals. But Israeli violence is backed with American money and American state-of-the-art weaponry, not home brew rockets. Its a no win situation for Hamas. What the Palestinians need is a strong non-violence movement. Instead of sending the Palestinian arms, Egypt and Turkey should flood them with cameras. No Israelis should be harmed in the protest movement. Cameras will win the war for Hamas, not modified 10 dollar fireworks.

It's already begun, it's just that non-violent resistance is a long, continuous and always frustrating process. The dividends take years, if not decades to be realized, and if one is fighting a losing battle with something as pressing as the settlement expansion it's difficult to not lose faith.

[hellheaven1987]

It's already begun, it's just that non-violent resistance is a long, continuous and always frustrating process. The dividends take years, if not decades to be realized, and if one is fighting a losing battle with something as pressing as the settlement expansion it's difficult to not lose faith.

Non-violent resistance is useless without foreign backing; the result in West Bank already shows that.

[Trey]

Non-violent resistance is useless without foreign backing; the result in West Bank already shows that.

Non-violent resistance is a matter of forcing the dominant power to react on terms that aren't in their favor. As Heinz pointed out, armed resistance for the Palestinians is pointless. They have not been able to bring about change in Israeli society in either the First (beginning as a relatively non-violent movement) or the Second Intifadas (which proved disastrous). Using force plays into Israel's strengths.

As mentioned, organized non-violent resistance takes time. It's purpose is to challenge the hegemonic power on moral grounds, while rallying outside forces to its cause. If you followed the relevant media, you would see that things such as the BDS movement and non-violent protest have caused serious consternation and hand wringing, much more so than a couple of home made rockets fired out of Gaza. Why? Because non-violent protest cannot be crushed using brute force without a significant public backlash. The establishment of a Palestinian state, or Palestinian enfranchisement, is long game stuff. It isn't about feel good short term victories. Given that rise of organized non-violent resistance is relatively new to the scene in Israel/Palestine, it will still be some time before we see the fruits of its labor. Things will get worse than they already are. I guarantee it. Yet if the Palestinians were to return to the use of violence, it would pit their weakness against strength.
I'd love to hear what great ideas you have.

[hellheaven1987]

Yet if the Palestinians were to return to the use of violence, it would pit their weakness against strength.

And yet Israel still does not care non-violent resistance in West Bank, in fact actually increases their colonization in that area; drop your arms in front a rogue state without some terms simply is inviting self-destruction of state.

[MathiasOfAthens]

The land belongs to Italy, or Greece, either of which have reasonable claim to Rome.

[hellheaven1987]

The land belongs to Italy, or Greece, either of which have reasonable claim to Rome.

The land belongs to Persia...

Welcome the old master Iranians now!!

[MathiasOfAthens]

, you got me there.

[John ''True Grit'' Wayne]

All Judea and Samaria is Jewish and all of Jerusalem is jewish the Arabs can go to Syria and Libya and Jordan and live in peace with their Arab peacefull brothers.The Israeli state is the most beautifull thing in the middle east.We must preserve it and protect it from the neighbours (Hamas)