"Creative anarchy" in the Gaza Strip

[ProgressiveMuslim]

Dr. Akram Habeeb writing from the occupied Gaza Strip, Live from Palestine, 1 January 2009


Unlike other people in the world, Gazans counted down the last seconds of 2008 anticipating the next Israeli air attack, shelling by tank, or the launch of a missile from warships crouching just offshore. Many of our children thought the flashing explosions were fireworks with which the Israeli military wanted them to mark the advent of the New Year. But too many children were shocked to learn some of their peers were either injured or killed. It was then that they discovered that Israel wanted them to have a macabre welcome for the year 2009.

Last night, the last of 2008, was the most horrible and horrendous for all Gazans. Almost every moment, a bomb fell on civilian homes, or other targets that had already been bombed to rubble. At least 10 people were killed and many other injured. Among the targets bombed by the Israeli Offense Forces were the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education and the Legislative Council.

Bombing these institutions has nothing to do with isolating Hamas or weakening the resistance. The Israeli intent seems to be to create what US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called "creative anarchy." Indeed Israel has always wanted to keep Palestinians living a life of disorder. They want chaos to prevail in the Gaza Strip. They want to eliminate any legislative or judicial system and replace it with the law of the jungle that existed before Hamas took power.

Such a state of anarchy would be further perpetuated by keeping Palestinians in Gaza ignorant and illiterate. It is to advance this sinister policy that Israel is systematically destroying the education system, targeting universities, schools, and above all the Ministry of Education. As a colonial power, Israel has adopted this old colonial strategy to dominate the Palestinians. It is precisely the same strategy used by slaveholders and colonizers: keep the people you want to control in ignorance so they cannot rebel.

Israel's claims that Palestinians have been using their institutions as military sites or for hiding and manufacturing weapons are preposterous and ridiculous. These allegations are just like the fake claims about Iraqi weapons former US Secretary of State Colin Powell used to justify the invasion of Iraq.

Laying waste to the Gaza Strip is another way for the colonizers to "prove" that Palestinians are just disorderly, monstrous, barbarous terrorists who do not deserve a state of their own. Instead they should be in the fetters of occupation, they should always be oppressed and repressed so they cannot disturb those living in the Garden of Eden. What should Palestinians do in response to such oppression? Should they remain imprisoned in Gaza, the world's largest concentration camp? Should they acquiesce to the Israeli siege and pray to God, "imprison me to make me free"?

read on.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10096.shtml

[cali]

1. Well, Gazans are not the only people in the world

undergoing disaster at the hands of others. Furthermore, it's always a mistake to state catagorically that you KNOW what another party's motives are. And sorry, but there is evidence that certain sites have been used as military sites. The Colin Powell comparison simply doesn't wash.

This article is simply a call for more violence. It's another Israelis=Supreme Evil, Palestinians=Supreme Innocence.

Although, most of us can agree that the Israeli attack on Gaza is an atrocity and the blockade of Gaza that preceded the attack is cruel and illegal, this painting in black and white, is not only inaccurate, it's counter-productive- demonization of Israelis or Palestinians is repugnant.

[glowing]

2. I would say that most of us recognize this.. Its an article with a point of view.

I've seen other articles with the other point of view. Most of us here realize that things aren't black and white. However, it is normally govt or people with power and money that make decisions that harm the greater good. They thrive on making enemies so as to divide us and keep us from realizing who our real enemies are. I'm rather sure that the Palestine mother and the Israli mother both agree that their children dying is not such a good thing and would like give them a loving, nurturing upbringing with happiness and peace. Most of the peons in the world rather like peace... its those in charge that love chaos to keep us running like rats on their creative wheel of horror.

I think most of us understand or try to understand all of the issues and the history and our role as the US in the history of the region, at least on this board. The media and the PTB would like things black and white and would like to spin things into more chaos. Standing up for peace, no matter who shot the first weapon, is always right.. there's the black and white... standing up for Human Rights, is always right.. there's a black and white in my book. All other issues are muddled in between because there are real human beings suffering on both sides and those emotions and fears and anger are real.. because we are not black and white; we are people with emotions and families and hopes; so we get points of view.