Israel, the Palestinians, and the Gaza Strip

Monte Wolverton, Cagle Post

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Israel's rationale for blockading the Palestinians in Gaza is its de facto rule by Hamas, a resistance organization designated as terrorist by a number of countries. But what of the Palestinian people?

A recent report by the U.N. that is called "the Schabas commission" by the Israelis has been covered by the New York Times. This quote comes from the Times article:

The commission said that “the scale of the devastation was unprecedented” in Gaza, where it counted 2,251 Palestinian deaths and 18,000 homes destroyed, and also cited “immense distress and disruption” to Israeli civilians, along with $25 million in civilian property damage.

Palestinian and Israeli children were “savagely affected by the events,” the report said in a distinct effort at evenhandedness, adding that children on both sides “suffered from bed-wetting, shaking at night, clinging to parents, nightmares and increased levels of aggressiveness.”

Writers of the report have attempted to be objective in their writing, however,

The Israeli government refused to cooperate with the inquiry, saying it was inherently biased.

Investigators were barred by Israel from entering Gaza.

The history of Israel is one of war and reclaiming a place in their perceived ancient homeland. The Gaza Strip has been "inhabited since at least the 15th century B.C.(CIA Library)." Seems to me that, since the Palestinians have been living there for centuries, it's as much theirs as the Israelis'.

Here's information on the difference between Israel's West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

For an idea of what life is like blockaded in a war zone that much of the world considers acceptable, take a look at BBC News' Life in the Gaza Strip. One Gaza teen, Farah Baker (@Farah_Gazan), tweets news about her life there daily. There is an NGO--Palestinian Center for Human Rights--that documents and investigates human rights violations.

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Farah Baker, Deutsche Welle

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Why do we hear so little about the happenings in Gaza? Because pro-Israel interests are very strong in the U.S. Here is some information on the lobby's activities in this country. According to Open Secrets,

Few lobbies dedicated to international issues are so active and well-fincanced as the Israel lobby. The question of Israel's future has the right mix to attract monied interests -- it's a highly fractious issue with high stakes and it plays a big role in domestic politics.

A powerful pro-Israel force has carved out an influential place in American campaigns in the form of super PAC megadonor Sheldon Adelson. Adelson doled out a whopping $92.8 million to Republican super PACs in 2012, making him the single highest contributor to outside groups that year. [Read more Background]

-- Marge