10-10-2023, 05:46 PM
Geography. The land area of Gaza is about one-tenth that of Santa Clara County. Of Gaza's tiny footprint on earth, about seventeen percent is a "buffer zone" and off-limits to her residents. So her population of ~2.3 million people is crammed into a really small space.
Commerce. Gaza is under a complete blockade and has been since Israel lifted its formal military occupation in 2009 or so. Israel controls Gaza's water and electricity supply, and most of its food supply. Gaza is often compared with an open-air prison.
Politics. Hamas is essentially a creation of Israel and the United States, intended to wrest power from Yasser Arafat and the PLO. Israel provided financial and military support to Sheikh Yassin, who was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. An unintended consequence was that when Palestinians were able to choose their own leaders, they elected Hamas. This was a big surprise: an "oh, sh**" moment.
History: no one can unravel thousands of years of conflicting claims about "who started it," who did what to whom first, who is more right, or who is more wrong. The vast majority of people in Israel and Palestine just want to love their children and live a peaceful life. But the status quo is untenable.
Way forward: only one path can lead to peace, and that is an ironclad resort to first principles: (i) no one may ever initiate the use of force against another and (ii) everyone should butt out except for the peoples of Israel and Palestine. Others have to stop using both countries as proxies. There is no outside solution. Aggression will solve nothing. Leaving the two antagonists alone will force them to negotiate and work out a peaceful relationship that can last for years.
Commerce. Gaza is under a complete blockade and has been since Israel lifted its formal military occupation in 2009 or so. Israel controls Gaza's water and electricity supply, and most of its food supply. Gaza is often compared with an open-air prison.
Politics. Hamas is essentially a creation of Israel and the United States, intended to wrest power from Yasser Arafat and the PLO. Israel provided financial and military support to Sheikh Yassin, who was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. An unintended consequence was that when Palestinians were able to choose their own leaders, they elected Hamas. This was a big surprise: an "oh, sh**" moment.
History: no one can unravel thousands of years of conflicting claims about "who started it," who did what to whom first, who is more right, or who is more wrong. The vast majority of people in Israel and Palestine just want to love their children and live a peaceful life. But the status quo is untenable.
Way forward: only one path can lead to peace, and that is an ironclad resort to first principles: (i) no one may ever initiate the use of force against another and (ii) everyone should butt out except for the peoples of Israel and Palestine. Others have to stop using both countries as proxies. There is no outside solution. Aggression will solve nothing. Leaving the two antagonists alone will force them to negotiate and work out a peaceful relationship that can last for years.