Israeli/Palestinian Conflict

I originally wanted to do my blog about an upcoming event in which a humanitarian flotilla will openly defy Israeli laws that ban certain imports into the Gaza strip. These bans include the obvious guns and other weapons, but they also include essential daily living materials for the large civilian populations. Sometime this month the flotilla will bring humanitarian aid in the form of tools for food, such as spices, farm equipment, fishing rods and nets, as well as building materials, such as cement and wood. All of these, along with many other seemingly arbitrary materials, are banned under current import laws. Israel's official reason is that it is for "security" and they refuse to give official reasons for specific items.

Palestinians in Gaza, as well as in the west bank, are in desperate need of many imports because their own internal economy has been ravaged. Decades-long Israeli blockades and bombings that destroy homes and entire businesses leave Palestinians unable to repair themselves. 24,813 Palestinian homes have been destroyed since 1967. Today West Bank unemployment is at 16.5% and Gaza's rate is 40%.

There are many faults that come from both the Israeli's and the Palestinians. However, the blockade is an exercise of power that illustrates Israel's upper hand in the conflict.

I would like to see this flotilla event go through but because it may not happen by the time this class is over I will continue blogging about other aspects of the Israeli occupation over these two areas.

http://therealnews.com/t2/component/content/article/57-ray-mcgovern/658-obama-protect-our-boat-qthe-audacity-of-hopeq

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stats/occ&aid.html

http://gisha.org/UserFiles/File/HiddenMessages/ItemsGazaStrip060510.pdf