Hamas, the democratically elected rulers of Gaza, diverted humanitarian aid and economic investment into terrorist tunnels.
[dropcap]The[/dropcap] poverty, dislocation and hopelessness in the Gaza Strip is a classic — perhaps the classic — example of the kid who killed his parents and then plead for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan.
Self-caused: This is basis of the poverty, dislocation and hopelessness in Gaza.
It’s not Israel.
It’s not the US.
It’s not the UN.
It’s not history.
It’s not Egypt.
It’s not the “Middle East conflict.”
It’s not Fatah and the West Bank Palestinians.
It’s Gaza itself.
Gaza elected Hamas.
Hamas came to power in Gaza democratically.
The people of Gaza wanted Hamas.
They got what they wished for.
They — in light of all that has come to light in the current Israeli war in Gaza — wished for this:
Money for tunnels.
Tunnels for terror.
Tunnels for arms storage.
Tunnels with tons — literally hundreds of tons — of concrete inside.
Tunnels with every device needed to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel, and even in Israel.
Tunnels that burrow under Israeli territory, the easier to surprise, attack and kill any Israeli the terrorists find.
Not settlers. Not Jewish residents of the West Bank. Not right-wing Israelis. That is, not only them. But any Israeli.
This is what the people of Gaza wanted when they elected Hamas, whose intentions vis-a-vis Israel were perfectly clear when the elections took place, and even earlier, just as clear as they are now.
That is what Gazans elected.
That is why they are so poor.
Their money goes not for food, not for electricity, not for economic development, not for education, not for transportation. It goes for tunnels. Terrorist tunnels.
And now, the US wishes to reward bad behavior by sending $47 million to Gaza — that is, to Hamas, and to the people who elected Hamas.
Anybody who thinks that “humanitarian” aid in the form of cash will not end up in the hands of Hamas need only look at this underground network of evil — and also at the hundreds of millions of dollars in supposed humanitarian aid and economic investment from the EU and others that Hamas has already commandeered.
And poured into these tunnels.
This was all perfectly clear and predictable the day after Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005.
Remember the greenhouses?
Israel left behind the greenhouses — a gift and a hope for the emergence of a little “Switzerland in the Middle East,” in Gaza.
Gazans were not interested. They destroyed the greenhouses. These symbols and sources of greening the desert were objects of hatred. For the Gazans hated Israel more than they cared for their own future.
It’s been downhill ever since.
Down into tunnels, into human shields, into weapons stored in hospitals, residences and mosques.
Remember, Israel’s blockade of Gaza came after Hamas came to power, in 2007; not before. Israel’s blockade was an act of self-defense.
Just like its current destruction of these tunnels of terror — which have made Gaza so poor.
Copyright © 2014 by the Intermountain Jewish News