Nothing will stunt Palestinian rebirth

[ProgressiveMuslim]

Rami G. Khouri, The Daily Star, Apr 25, 2009


(snip)

Now, months later, the Gaza situation seems to have returned to its default state of siege, stagnation, de-development and oblivion. This includes continued mass reliance on international charity simply to feed most of the residents of Gaza - but at levels of nutrition well below what is required for normal growth and development.

Last year, according to data from UNRWA, the United Nations agency responsible for providing Palestinian refugees with their basic needs, children in Gaza were showing signs of stunted growth that reflected malnourishment, which normally takes a few years to manifest itself.

So not only are the Palestinians of Gaza denied the fruits of their democratic elections, and the opportunity to travel normally and trade with the world; they are also losing their biological capacity to grow physically as normal human beings. Politically dehumanized Palestinians, though, will not accept also to be physically miniaturized.

So we can be sure of one thing now, when Gaza appears quiet on the surface: the Palestinians in Gaza are not passively watching their own dehumanization on television and wallowing in self-pity. What they are doing, and how their actions will translate into new political or military dynamics, is not evident on the surface. What is clear is that the status quo will not hold, and will be shattered in ways we cannot now predict.

[madeline_con]

1. So the genocide, and the justified response by the Palestinians

will continue. Good for them!

spell edit