Posted on 04/16/2008 11:01:04 AM PDT by jhpigott
Hamas faces unprecedented crisis, as Israel, Egypt prepare for flare-up Alex Fishman 4/16/08
Egypt asked Israel to put its forces along the Gaza Strip border on alert, while at the same time the Egyptian army is on special deployment on the Philadelphi Route and south of it. Officials in Israel and Egypt estimate that Gaza is on the brink of eruption that may be violently manifested on the Strip’s border with the two countries.
Israeli security officials estimate that Hamas’ Gaza regime has reached a dead-end and is facing an unprecedented crisis not seen since it took over the Strip. Hamas has no real answers to the distress of the Palestinian public and the last resort is a flare-up on the borders.
At Egypt’s request, and after power outages started in the Strip Tuesday, Israel decided to renew the supply of fuel to Gaza power stations as of Wednesday. Israel also agreed to turn a blind eye to the concentrations of Egyptian forces and weapons deployed near the Philadelphi Route these days even though they are forbidden by the peace treaty.
In light of the crisis in Gaza, Egypt put the special forces it brought into Sinai on alert and reiterated the threat to open fire at Palestinians who attempt to breach the wall it built along the Philadelphi Route.
The sense of suffocation faced by the Hamas regime in the Strip stems first and foremost from its isolation in the Arab world. Hamas’ ties with Egypt have hit a nadir. The Syrians, meanwhile, invited Mahmoud Abbas to the Arab League convention in Damascus, while Khaled Mashaal was not invited and Hamas members could not participate, even as observers. This move seriously undermined Hamas’ status.
And if that’s not enough, the contacts with Israel on the Shalit deal are stuck, Hamas failed to elicit European support for removing the political and economic boycott it faces, and the Yemenite mediation attempts between Hamas and Fatah have failed.
The Hamas regime has no legitimacy and it has failed to present any diplomatic achievement. Hamas’ only achievements are in the military arena: The improvement of rockets and weapons, the digging of tunnels, etc. The rest is stuck, and Strip residents are crying out.
Private sector collapse
Yet while Hamas is boycotted, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is receiving international aid to the tune of about $2 billion a year. Fayyad pays 77,000 PA public service workers in Gaza salaries totaling tens of millions of dollars so they do not switch sides and maintain their allegiance to the Ramallah-based PA.
On the other hand, since Hamas took power, about 90,000 people in Gaza lost their jobs. The “private sector” in the Strip in fact collapsed.
Just like in Israel, Gaza is also facing a water crisis because of the rainless winter. Some wells are contaminated while others are below the red line. The fuel crisis reached such extent that Hamas itself finds it difficult to engage in motorized patrols along the Strip’s main routes. Recently we have been hearing criticism regarding the corruption of the Hamas apparatus, and we should recall that we are talking about a regime that was considered to be free of corruption up until now.
Meanwhile, the civilian population constantly fears the IDF’s anti-terror attacks; clashes with the IDF cause casualties almost every day. Hundreds of wounded Palestinians are at the hospital and at home, surrounded by thousands of bitter families.
Voices in the Strip are calling to extend the fighting to the West Bank, in order to utilize another pressure lever on Israel. Also, a UN envoy to the Mideast offered the Palestinians and Israel a plan to deploy a multinational force along the Philadelphi Route that would enable the opening of the Rafah crossing under the supervision of Abbas’ forces. However, Hamas does not accept this solution, while Israel wonders which states would agree to send their troops to the Philadelphi Route.
At this time, the sense in Israel and in Egypt is that Gaza is on the eve of a violent outburst.
ping
isn’t jimmah al-carter over there solving that crisis ?
Gaza on the brink ping.
When is it not?
They've been saying the "Big One" is going to hit California for the part 40 years.
I say....Let Them Erupt!
Don’t worry, this is a job for the “Peanut Ex-President”. Jimmah will settle this. Right!!
“Hamas faces unprecedented crisis...”
It’s the same “unprecedented” crisis that they’ve had for almost 60 years.
They've been saying the "Big One" is going to hit California for the part 40 years.
For 30+ years they said New Orleans would drown.
Then it did.
“The Syrians, meanwhile, invited Mahmoud Abbas to the Arab League convention in Damascus, while Khaled Mashaal was not invited and Hamas members could not participate, even as observers. This move seriously undermined Hamas’ status.”
It seems there’s no one left in Hamas’ corner but Jimmie Carter. How can a former U.S. President understand so little about the situation in Gaza? And will he ever appreciate how damaging his actions have been?
Need to read slower. Thought it said that the Egyptian army was deploying to Philadelphia...
OTH, maybe that’s not such a bad idea!!
They've been saying the "Big One" is going to hit California for the part 40 years.
>For 30+ years they said New Orleans would drown. Then it did.
I like what BIlly Grahams wife said. If G_d doesn't do something about San Fransicko, he owes soddom and ghomorrah an apology
These are the same people who were celebrating in the streets when my countrymen were dying in the WTC, screw’em!!
On the VERGE of Eruption? What has been going on the last 15 years?
given the current state of tensions in the region in general, a full blown conflict in Gaza bwtn Israel and Hamas/Islamic Jihad could set off the northern border front
in most other time periods, I’d say you are right. but i believe this is worth paying attention to b/c of the other regional factors currently at play
When is gaza not ready to erupt?
Yeah, knocking down the wall between Gaza and Egypt for a cigarettes and munchies run didn't make any friends.
Hmmmmm. Let Egypt go in this time and settle things with the Gazan Amalekstinians. Let the Egyptians fight them for a while. Let the Amalekstinians bother Egypt for a while and let Israel alone. I’m sure Condi won’t jet over to Egypt and flap about Egypt having to make any “painful concessions”. Likely by the time she gets there, the Egyptian Army would have made short shrift of their “palestinian brothers.” Egypt can get away with things that the White House and State Department won’t let Israel get away with. Give Israel a rest for a change.
High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel, WOT
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I think you’ve stumbled upon the secret plan!
isn’t jimmah al-carter over there solving that crisis ?”
What if they take his as a hostage????
we should be so lucky
What if they take his as a hostage????
Then its time to celebrate in the streets...
I vote for a pyroclastic flow.
Gosh, THAT'S a first!
After all, history dictates "peace in the middle east" has been promoted for decades.
Oh, wait, centuries...
Is a peace process not working in the middle east??
It should, after all considering all our achieved wisdom as a whole politically the promotion of it has been in place for 40 years....
And 9/11 never happened.
Sounds good to me, if they go with the flow!
Sounds good to me, if they go with the flow!
Gaza on verge of eruption
~~~
Ya’ Think ?...;0)
So?
Did you ever see "Airplane"?
"Shana, they bought their tickets, they knew what could happen. I say....Let them die"!
I really couldn’t care less what happens to the barbaric murderer raising savages. They are a pestilence.
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