Sunday, March 09, 2008

Centrality of Gaza


Gaza First -Calev Ben-David

It is the current status of Gaza - and not the future dispensation of the West Bank - that occupied the ranking position on the agenda of Secretary of State Rice' discussions in Israel.

It is now more than abundantly clear that Gaza is not an obstacle that can be circumvented and left for last. If anything, the opposite is true. Now is the time to focus preeminently on Gaza first, and the task of changing the reality on the ground there, before whatever precious little is left of the peace process heads permanently south.
(Jerusalem Post)


PA Report on Gaza Takeover -Zvi Bar'el

The report of the Palestinian commission to investigate the capture of Gaza by Hamas in June 2007 paints a terrifying picture of military and political helplessness, internal disputes, family loyalties, [and] a lack of talent and ability to administer military and political forces.

Its most significant revelation is that Mahmoud Abbas knew Hamas was about to take control of Gaza and did not manage to prevent it. This raises questions about the assumption that Israel can depend on the Fatah leadership and on Abbas personally to be able to control the situation.

The report provides a harsh response to the dilemma of whether to strengthen Abbas. It suggests that the diplomatic horizon or its absence and the Israeli attitude toward the PA had little effect on the strengthening or weakening of Abbas.
(Ha'aretz)

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