Hamas and Fatah have behaved shamefully

[oberliner]

There is little in the Middle Eastern political scene these days more shameful than the sheer incompetence and irresponsibility of both leading Palestinian political groups, Hamas and Fatah, in moving ahead to implement their national reconciliation government.

This is critical for any real improvements in the lives of Gazans.Allowing the 7-year-old stalemated situation between Hamas and Fatah to persist is not a viable option. It is reported now that over 40 percent of Gazans seek to emigrate, and hundreds have died trying to flee to Europe by sea. Some say it is better to die suddenly at sea while trying to leave than to die slowly inside Gaza. Over 16,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged beyond repair, and some 60,000 Palestinians still shelter semipermanently in converted UNRWA schools.

At the current rate of cement imports that are allowed by the besieging Israelis, Gaza will need 18 years simply to replace the housing that was destroyed in the war. Of the 3,000 children wounded in the war, around 1,000 will suffer lifelong disabilities. Gazans directly or indirectly live on charity from the international community. Gaza has become a cross between a food kitchen, a homeless shelter and a prison.

Juxtaposed against this grim reality is the pride of many, probably most, Palestinians in the ability of the armed resistance (mainly Hamas and Islamic Jihad) to fight Israel for 50 days and not surrender or be destroyed. This sense of one’s ability to fight back and inflict some pain on the enemy that torments us – we are not helpless, we are not invisible people – is a meaningful political reality; but it comes at a high cost that is not easily quantifiable. We really do not know if the majority of Palestinians in Gaza would accept another round of warfare and destruction next month in order to affirm their ability and insistence to fight for their liberty.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Columnist/2014/Sep-20/271300-hamas-and-fatah-have-behaved-shamefully.ashx#ixzz3E4TCPjMw

[shira]

1. It's not shameful when considering what the goal is....

The goal is to destroy Israel, at any cost. They believe delegitimizing and demonizing Israel helps that cause.

They'll keep doing it b/c they know they can rely on the support of westerners who will help these fascists. There's nothing they can do that's utterly shameful or beyond the pale in the eyes of their western cheerleaders who share the same Israel bashing goal.

The Jews have survived genocidal fascists before. We'll survive against modern western fascists as well.