Palestinians try to wean Gaza children from war

[Coastie for Truth]

Palestinians try to wean Gaza children from war

Freedom for Palestine!" chants 9-year-old Ahmad Abu Sharia in a Gaza Strip refugee camp, as he listens to a small radio bringing news of Israeli air strikes.

"I want to become a commander in al-Aqsa," he says, referring to one of the main Palestinian militant groups, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

Abu Sharia's dream of fighting Israel and perhaps achieving fame as a "martyr" is one shared by many of his friends and other youngsters in the Gaza Strip, a militant stronghold in an uprising against Israel since 2000.

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Palestinians trying to rebuild the Gaza Strip must now deal with the legacy of a culture of martyrdom and militancy that appears better suited to years of violence than to making the territory a model for statehood.

"Cutting poverty and unemployment, and creating a conducive atmosphere to reduce militant tendencies among children is the top priority," said Ghassan al-Khatib, Palestinian planning minister.

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The government is focusing on improving school curricula and fostering an environment to help children focus on education, civic duties and eventually finding jobs, Khatib said.