http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/world/middleeast/31children.html?_r=1&ref=middleeast Perhaps we can all hope for peace in the land sacred to three major religions in the coming new year.
Israel doing the complete opposite of what they promised as usual? of course! http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1139226.html Construction in West Bank settlements booming despite declared freeze Despite the construction freeze, dozens of settlements in the West Bank are experiencing a building boom, even on the eve of another visit to the region by U.S. envoy George Mitchell to try to restart talks for a final settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Hey, I'm just hoping for peace in the coming year, not a resolution of all ME issues! The report is in an Israeli newspaper. How many negative articles about Hamas, etc., appear in Arabic newspapers in the ME? Ironically, most of the work continues to be done by Palestinians.
Your observation is not related to the issue. And quite the contrary, there are lots of negative articles about hamas in Palestinian and Arabic newspapers. Yes it is Ironic that the work is done by Palestinians, it just illustrates how desperate they are since the Israeli occupation has sucked every ounce of blood from their economy. To the Israelis its just cheap labor they can't find elsewhere. But lets hope these Palestinians are really building their future homes.
I think the Haaretz article speaks for the opposition of many Israelis to the policies in the West Bank, including construction of more buildings by Jewish settlers. Government inaction could have two causes: complicit or impotent. Complicit in that enough notice was given of the exception for lain foundations, so that many were done before the ban went into effect; also that enforcement seems lax. Impotent, in that the fractured political system makes major policy decisions nearly impossible, and because the government does not desire to battle with its most militant citizens. I don't see any linked in these threads. The previous comment noted that Fatah gets the good articles. Perhaps there is as much opposition to Hamas among the Palestinians, as there is towards the settlers in Israel. In each case, unfortunately, the radical/lunatic fringe dominates the conversation, as well as the government, & controls the drama. I would have thought so, except that IIRC Israel destroyed most structures in the Gaza settlements upon its ejection of the settlers there. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5281714.stm
I knew this was coming! Are there any critical English-language articles? http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=130401&d=30&m=12&y=2009 "if Hamas succeeds in concluding a major deal to release thousands of Palestinians in Israeli jails in return for Gilad Shalit, the group may end up delivering a knock-out blow to Abbas and his followers." http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/12/200912279456499218.html "Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros ... said that "... the Hamas government ... continue to maintain control, law and order here in the Gaza Strip"." http://www.alarabiya.net/views/2009/12/27/95451.html "Hamas can hardly claim victory. Sure, it won the insurgents’ victory of surviving ..., but the clash was an unmitigated disaster for those who voted Hamas into power. On top of a crippling economic siege that has reduced most Gazans to penury came a devastating blitzkrieg. And the ceasefire that Hamas has enforced since then has not brought an end to Israel’s economic chokehold ... The symbolic victory of Hamas’s survival has meant little to Gazans enduring a desperate decline in their quality of life, and opinion polls find that its support has dipped." This is the most critical I have found, which is not much.
Al Arabiya is owned by Saudi princes so it's not suprising. The most critical are Egyptian newspapers because Hamas are tied with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Most English Langauge arab newspapers are based in London or wherever and try to be "impartial" and "journalistic".
What? Hamas managed to kill Fatah members by crossing over Israeli territory and attacking the West Bank?
They were killing each other off in Gaza and WB before and even during last year's Gaza war, Hamas members were killing Fatah members for alleged collaboration with Israelis.
What I meant is now they can't fight because All of Hamas are in Gaza and all of Fatah is in the WB. Israel seperates the two. And besides, as Hamas have shown, they can easily kick Fatah's ass.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1134898.html The usual discrimination...... Jewish town won't let Arab build home on his own land Aadel Suad first came to the planning and construction committee of the Misgav Local Council in 1997. Suad, an educator, was seeking a construction permit to build a home on a plot of land he owns in the community of Mitzpeh Kamon. The reply he got, from a senior official on the committee, was a memorable one. "Don't waste your time," he reportedly told Suad. "We'll keep you waiting for 30 years."
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/01/06/gaza.egypt.clashes/index.html Guess they were upset they weren't going to get weapons....
Not sure what that has to do with Israel or Palestine, but if you want to add that report then you should add the fact that the anger there has been caused by the alleged rape of a twelve year old Muslim girl by a Christian. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8445838.stm Now, that doesn't justify these crimes, but it places them in a local as opposed to religious context.