I agree that the borders should be open again.

But I disagree that Israel has a responsibility to open it. I think such a deal should be connected to a deal that would also open Lebanon's and Syri's borders with Israel.

There are many Lebanese (Christian and Shiite) living in northern Israel that cannot get back into Lebanon to visit friends or relatives. (They are the families of the Lebanese Forces militia that fought against the Arabs in the Lebanese civil war.)

Note that the border to Gaza was open and many Gazans worked in Israel just a few years ago. It was the war the PLO started in the early 2000s that closed the borders first and when that ended, Hamas took over and declared war again. And since 85% of the people in Gaza voted for war, I don't really care much about the problems they have because of it.

(JU screwed up the quoting again.)

A video showing the "starvation" in Gaza:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfxZcMGwcxE

You know I am just sick and tired of paying for those luxuries AND being accused of causing starvation!

I hope this gives you a better idea of the "starvation" we are talking about here.

Here is the same as a galerry of pictures:

http://community.livejournal.com/nasha_pravda_il/52041.html

In the mean time, of course, entire towns are being destroyed in Dafur and millions are fleeing and the international community is not wasting a cent on rebuilding Darfur.

An excellent German article on the situation:

http://www.n-tv.de/1113028.html

I quote from the conclusion and translate:

Warum sollte der europäische Steuerzahler für die Moscheen aufkommen, in deren Kellern nachweislich Waffen und Sprengstoff gelagert waren. Und welchen Sinn macht es jetzt Gelder in den Wiederaufbau zu investierten, während die Hamas oder von ihr geduldete Organisation weiterhin Israel mit Raketen beschießen, während die Israelis als Reaktion darauf mit harten Schlägen drohen.

Noch geht der Krieg also weiter. Nicht einmal ein Waffenstillstand konnte bislang ausgehandelt werden. Da muss man sich fragen, welchen Teufel die halbe Welt reitet, mitten in einem noch nicht beendeten Krieg mal wieder Milliardensummen zu verpulvern, während es doch genügend andere von Krieg und Bürgerkrieg verwüstete Landstriche gibt, in denen diese Gelder dringender benötigt werden, zum Beispiel in Darfur, Sri Lanka, Georgien oder Irak.

"Why should the European tax payer pay for the very mosques in the cellars of which were stored weapons and explosives, as was proven. And what is the idea behind sending money into a rebuilding while Hamas and organisations allied with Hamas still fire rockets at Israel while the Israelis react by threatening harsh strikes.

The war still continues. Not even a cease-fire could be obtained so far. One has to wonder which devil is riding half the world [German expression] to pour billions into a war that hasn't ended yet while at the same time there are enough other territories destroyed by war and civil war, in which those monies are needed much more, for example in Darfur, Sri Lanka, Georgia, or Iraq."

Yes, obviously it is because you are not Jewish. Everybody knows that Jews are evil. It has probably nothing to do with the fact that those people want to kill me. I just hate them, right?

I have never seen people really care for Darfur. There were lots of protests against Israel ("Death to the Jews!") which I guess are counted as "support for the children of Gaza" (who presumably want to live in a war zone, if you can believe the protesters who demand more war), but not very many against the Sudanese government who kill one hundred times as many people in Darfur without being threatened or attacked by them at all.

In fact, I don't remember you writing a blog entry about Darfur or comment in any of those that I wrote about the region.

I think you care about the children in Gaza because the propaganda shown on television makes you care.

The pictures were from January, some of them. Others were from last year. All of them were from the time of the "blockade".

If all of them did, they could. But perhaps you are not aware of the fact that the other big party, the PLO, also advocates war (just at the moment they don't). All the previous wars were fought by the PLO, not Hamas. And 90% of the "Palestinian people" always vote for one of the two war parties.

The fact that they are frightened to speak up is not my responsibility or Israel's. But the Gazans have no right to export their fear into neighbouring countries. Whatever Hamas does to them, it does not justify attacks and it does not create a responsibility for Israe.

The children are the responsibility of their parents. And 90% of their parents keep voting for war. If you want to help their children, make sure they stop doing that.

Here we go: from the comments section, the answer:

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Friday it has halted all aid shipments into the Gaza Strip due to interference by the ruling Hamas militant group.

The U.N. Relief and Works agency said it made the decision after Hamas personnel intercepted an aid shipment for the second time this week.

In a statement, UNRWA said 10 truckloads of flour and rice that had been delivered into Gaza on Thursday were taken away by trucks affiliated with the Hamas-run Ministry of Social Affairs. Earlier this week, Hamas police took thousands of blankets and food parcels meant for needy residents.

UNRWA said the suspension would remain in effect until the aid is returned and the agency receives credible assurances from the Hamas government that such thefts will end. There was no immediate reaction from Hamas.

So what will we do about that? "Open the borders"? Apparently the borders are open and UNRWA complain about aid shipments being attacked after crossing the border. What can Israel do to stop Hamas from attacking aid shipments? Attack Hamas?

I have no doubt that the girl's account is correct. But I also have no doubt that the situation has a lot to do with the girl's family not accepting Israeli help and Hamas attacking aid shipments. There is nothing Israel can do about that except offer help (and see it refused) and attack Hamas (and get condemned for the attack).

Perhaps Hamas doesn't allow everyone to buy food?

So what do you think should Israel do? The borders are open for goods, hence UNRWA's aid shipments go through. The aid seems to vanish on the other side of the border.

But perhaps, if we send more money and aid, and Hamas can steal more, the war will end and the children will be helped, right?

Israel's entry to this years' Eurovision:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLuY6kFwAws

The artists are a Jew and (Christian) Arab. The song is sung in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.

Previous entries:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTi2KwixNjg

1979, in Hebrew: "Hallelu yah la 3olam" = "Praise G-d to the world"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdMdZrgBfo8

1983, in Hebrew: "Ani od hai, 3am Yisrael hai, ani sho3el vemitpallel..." = "I am still alive, the people of Israel are still alive, I ask and I pray..."

The artist is a Yemenite Jew and as the stereotype goes her Hebrew pronunciation is perfect. The Jewish artist of the first song is also a Yemenite Jew. In fact most decent musicians in Israel are either of Yemenite or Sephardi (Spanish/Turkish) descent.)

(This song is also played on the radio whenever Israel survives a war, much to the anger of Arabs everywhere.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei4zlCbquoY

2007, in Hebrew, English, and French: "Push the button"

The Arabs usually use the Eurovision song contest to show their willingness to live together in peace with Israel. Lebanon usually enters the contest and then withdraw every time Israel also enters. And Jordanian television just stops transmitting in Jordan when Israel wins or makes second place.

When?

1) The world doesn't need oil. OR

2) The Arab oil runs out. OR

3) Alternative sources of power are found.

AND provided

4) The "Guest Workers" haven't overrun the countries that "hosted" them...or the "hosts" have learned not to fear them.

When will ANYONE learn "There's no such thing as free lunch."?

When will anyone learn the price of the addiction to oil and those who own it?

Don't forget that the Arab fascists have very vocal allies in the west, allies who are not worried about oil (or even understand why it might be important).

People who protest on the streets and scream "Death to the Jews" are not on the Arab side because they need oil. They will support the Arab fascists like the KKK supported the German fascists.

I am convinced that the US and Europe would have excellent ties to Saudi Arabia and the other oil-producing Arab countries even without propping up Hamas every few years. The days of Arab unity are over. Saudi Arabia and the other "moderate" Arab countries fear Iran a lot more than they hate Israel or Jews. Heck, Bahrain even made one of their 35 Jews a diplomat last year. The Arab dictators are not necessarily anti-Semites any more, but their subjects mostly are.

I know about what Arafat did.

I wrote an English article on Darfur and have been writing Japanese ones, much more than those on Gaza (anyway, it does not matter now).

Leauki, you always bring up anti-Semitism, but we Japanese live in the area where there are nothing to do with anti-Semitism while we have other discrimination issues which are more common. Actually, on International pages of Japanese newspaper, I read as many articles on Palestinian issue as on Darfur, Pakistan, Afghanistan and others. It is not because of anti-Semitism or the number of casualities. Just because it is something to be picked up.

Palestinian issues came from only "anti-Semitism"? I understand there is anti-semitism in the world. But as for Israeli matters, it seems they exploit anti-Semitism as a shield to protest the world's criticism.

No, it isn't something to be picked up. It's a non-issue. Looking at the region and picking on the one country that keeps violence down to low levels doesn't make sense, unless you have another problem with that country.

If you are worried about "Palestinian" children, why not write articles about Lebanon and Jordan, where there is a lot more violence against "Palestinians" than in Israel including the West-Bank and Gaza?

Israel has done a lot more to help "Palestinians" than to harm them. Israel sheltered them from Jordan (and I think she shouldn't have). Israel provides medical care (to people who want to destroy her). And it is _Israel_ who gave the "Palestinians" their first government. Before the Palestinian Authority, the West-Bank and Gaza were either part of Egypt and Jordan (who didn't give them independence and didn't want to) and Israel (who wanted them to be independent since 1949).

Picking on Israel is just a way to keep the "Palestinians" in limbo. They'll never have their own country unless Israel gives it to them, because nobody else will. If Israel loses a war, the "Palestinians" have no chance to be independent ever.

It is just coincidence that the world always watches the Jews?

> When approaching the Egyptian border the Egyptian military opened fired and slaughter a lot of refugees.  Did you hear that on the news of course not.

You are wrong. I know the case that the Darfur refugees were shot by Egypt. Both you don't need to bring Darfur up to me to compare with Palestine. I have read much more papers on that than on the Palestinian issue.

Leauki, do I have to write articles every time when I am concerned about a certain issue, which can be an only ruler to measure how much concerns? There are many other issues I am concerned about even if I have written articles in my English blog.

Anyway, so much for this time.