Gaza's tunnel tycoons . From an article in YNet.
"Some 600 new millionaires made their fortunes by smuggling goods in Gaza tunnels, at the expense of thousands of workers risking their lives. Social uprising on the way?
The Gaza Strip usually makes headlines for rocket launching and IDF raids, but the daily lives of its residents are mostly affected by poverty, unemployment, faulty infrastructure and Hamas government corruption. A new study shows that in the past five years a new class of young millionaires emerged in Gaza.
The Gaza blockade enabled many to capitalize on the smuggling of goods via the Rafah tunnels. A new class of 600 young "tunnel millionaires" made their fortunes often at the expense of thousands of workers risking their lives in the tunnels.
Many of the new financial tycoons invested their money in grandiose real estate projects such as luxurious shopping malls and hotels, out of the reach of most Gaza residents. This resulted in a spike in real estate prices that further worsened the economic stagnation. Many of the new millionaires are associated with Hamas leadership, and are involved in money laundering schemes, investing mostly outside Gaza.
As a result, their contribution to the Gaza market is slim, many claim in Gaza. They are furious with the new elite that use their capital to further monopolize the market to their own benefit rather than invest in the local market and create new jobs.
For some of the millionaires, theirs is a Cinderella story. A carriage driver turned became a luxury cars dealership owner, and a simple construction worker evolved into a real estate tycoon. Arab media recently showcased the story of 27 year-old Abu Ibrahim who turned his demolished house into a tunnel and in less than five years became a millionaire. The prices of smuggled goods, said Ibrahim "skyrocketed" in the past years, allowing him to earn up to $100,000 a day. His workers were paid $100a day.
The Hamas government cooperates and supports the nouveaux riches. It refrained from enforcing clear financial laws and regulations, and under the premise of "the struggle against Israeli blockade" it allowed the tunnel business to flourish without any regulation, while earning millions from taxes on gas, cigarettes and illegal drugs and pills."
Showing posts with label no humanitarian crisis in gaza. Show all posts
Showing posts with label no humanitarian crisis in gaza. Show all posts
Monday, March 19, 2012
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Out of Africa
The Horn of Africa is facing its worst drought in 60 years, with an estimated 11.6 million people needing urgent humanitarian aid. Over 2.3 million children are estimated to be malnourished , with over half a million severely malnourished children at imminent risk of death. Tens of thousands of people have died and many more lives are at risk.
And a relief convoy just passed through the region without stopping, on its way to bring aid to Gaza.
From CNN
A humanitarian land convoy heading to Gaza from South Africa reached Port Sudan, Sudan on the Red Sea Wednesday and is destined to become the first relief mission to Gaza from Africa.
"I was inspired last year by the convoys that went to Gaza from Europe, so we asked ourselves; why not from Africa?" said Sheikh Walid al-Saadi of the South African Relief Agency (SARA).
Why not Africa? This is why:
From the CIA Factbook on Somalia:
Infant mortality in Somalia total: 105.56 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy in Somalia total population: 50.4 years
From the CIA factbook on Gaza
Infant mortality total: 17.12 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy total population: 73.92 years
The ten trucks, explained al-Saadi, left Durban, South Africa on June 26 and has passed through seven countries including Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan
In a bringing coal to Newcastle moment, this convoy is rolling past the truly needy in Africa, to Gaza, a region with an obesity rate, according to UNRWA of 30-40%. A region where luxury hotels, malls and cinemas have just been built. This is an unconscionable evil, orchestrated by the South African Relief Agency (SARA), and enabled by the selfish and narcissistic regime in Gaza. Visit the SARA facebook page. Let them know how you feel about this. www.facebook.com/africa.to.gaza.aid.convoy
NY Times has provided a list for Helping Victims of the East Africa Famine. And do not allow the Palestinians' well oiled PR machine to distance and distract you from the real need in this world.
UPDATE
From Ma'an
A solidarity group from South Africa arrived in Gaza Thursday evening, for a four-day visit they have called "Freedom for detainees."
The group brought 10 trucks of medical and humanitarian supplies, entering through the southern Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
With all the publicity regarding the utter hypocrisy of taking aid out of Africa, the group has kept their arrival in Gaza fairly low key. Publicity stunt fail
And a relief convoy just passed through the region without stopping, on its way to bring aid to Gaza.
From CNN
A humanitarian land convoy heading to Gaza from South Africa reached Port Sudan, Sudan on the Red Sea Wednesday and is destined to become the first relief mission to Gaza from Africa.
"I was inspired last year by the convoys that went to Gaza from Europe, so we asked ourselves; why not from Africa?" said Sheikh Walid al-Saadi of the South African Relief Agency (SARA).
Why not Africa? This is why:
From the CIA Factbook on Somalia:
Infant mortality in Somalia total: 105.56 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy in Somalia total population: 50.4 years
From the CIA factbook on Gaza
Infant mortality total: 17.12 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy total population: 73.92 years
Child in East Africa
Child in Gaza
The ten trucks, explained al-Saadi, left Durban, South Africa on June 26 and has passed through seven countries including Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan
In a bringing coal to Newcastle moment, this convoy is rolling past the truly needy in Africa, to Gaza, a region with an obesity rate, according to UNRWA of 30-40%. A region where luxury hotels, malls and cinemas have just been built. This is an unconscionable evil, orchestrated by the South African Relief Agency (SARA), and enabled by the selfish and narcissistic regime in Gaza. Visit the SARA facebook page. Let them know how you feel about this. www.facebook.com/africa.to.gaza.aid.convoy
NY Times has provided a list for Helping Victims of the East Africa Famine. And do not allow the Palestinians' well oiled PR machine to distance and distract you from the real need in this world.
UPDATE
From Ma'an
A solidarity group from South Africa arrived in Gaza Thursday evening, for a four-day visit they have called "Freedom for detainees."
The group brought 10 trucks of medical and humanitarian supplies, entering through the southern Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
With all the publicity regarding the utter hypocrisy of taking aid out of Africa, the group has kept their arrival in Gaza fairly low key. Publicity stunt fail
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Delegitimizing the American Flotilla
From the blog "Act for Israel"
"There are many reasons why the “American Flotilla” is not a humanitarian effort, even though many of its participants believe it is.
Primarily this is due in large measure to the fact that participating in the flotilla only serves the whims of Hamas, a terror organization. This is not only immoral, but is potentially illegal under US law.
Other reasons include the fact that there are far more constructive and rapid ways to deliver aid than through a flotilla, and the fact that Israel has the right to – and will – defend its borders.
The blockade of Gaza is legal under international law, and efforts to break it are bound to result in a confrontation with Israel’s defense forces. Resisting Israel’s defense forces will likely result in injury or death to those who physically resist Israel’s enforcement of the blockade.
We have gathered important facts about the organizations behind the Audacity of Hope. Since this information is relevant to US national security interests, it is vital for all American citizens to be informed.
The Audacity of Hope will NOT deliver a single Humanitarian Aid item to Gazans
The “Audacity of Hope” will not carry a single humanitarian aid item on board. The only “Humanitarian aid” items generated by the American flotilla are letters of support to the people of Gaza. Interestingly, these letters were already sent to Gaza. The only purpose for the boat is to create an international confrontation with a strong US ally. Since the Audacity of Hope will not deliver a single humanitarian aid item, it is only logical to examine who is behind the Audacity of Hope, and to understand the organizer’s goals
Organizers of the “Audacity of Hope”
The “Audacity of Hope” is organized and sponsored by USTOGAZA, a coalition of organizations who together joined to break Israel’s counter-terror naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. USTOGAZA states that its mission is to:
“challenge U.S foreign policy and affirm the universal obligation to uphold international law and human rights”
Included in the coalition of organizations that make up the USTOGAZA is the notorious Free Gaza Movement. The Free Gaza Movement is an umbrella organization responsible for coordinating past flotillas as a part of a sustained campaign to break the blockade of Gaza.
Additional partners and the web of terror-ties
The Free Gaza Movement partnered with the IHH, an organization that according to the US Treasury Department is part of a Saudi-based, Hamas-created umbrella group of Muslim charities called Union of Goods. The Union of Goods was created to transfer funds to Hamas through a web of charitable organizations. According to the State Department, some of the funds transferred by the Union of Good have compensated families of suicide bombers. The Union of Goods was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2008 by the US Treasury Department.
A list of contributions on IHH’s website reveals that IHH gave millions in cash to Hamas officials at the Gaza Health Ministry.
The Free Gaza Movement has had more than incidental interactions with Hamas. The key members of the organizers are well-known for their ties with global Jihad, al-Qaeda and Hamas. During a Free Gaza Movement visit to Gaza in August 2008, the activists met with Hamas leaders, including Prime Minister Haniyeh who presented the Free Gaza Movement activists with medals.
The organizer’s ultimate goal is to weaken the U.S “war on terror”
USTOGAZA is employing the Audacity of Hope as a part of a campaign that aims to change U.S policy in the fight against terrorist organizations. The Gaza blockade is in place to weaken Hamas, a designated Foreign Terror Organization by the United State government. Consequently, the blockade and blockade-breaking attempts are part of a dispute relating to the United States and its fight against terrorist organization. USTOGAZA is clearly trying to defeat measures taken by the United States regarding Hamas, Gaza and the Middle East Peace Process. Successive US administrations have stated that the disruption of the Middle East Peace Process constitutes “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”
Read the whole entry here
And remember: There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza
For the most accurate information on the Flotilla, please visit Gaza Flotilla 101
"There are many reasons why the “American Flotilla” is not a humanitarian effort, even though many of its participants believe it is.
Primarily this is due in large measure to the fact that participating in the flotilla only serves the whims of Hamas, a terror organization. This is not only immoral, but is potentially illegal under US law.
Other reasons include the fact that there are far more constructive and rapid ways to deliver aid than through a flotilla, and the fact that Israel has the right to – and will – defend its borders.
The blockade of Gaza is legal under international law, and efforts to break it are bound to result in a confrontation with Israel’s defense forces. Resisting Israel’s defense forces will likely result in injury or death to those who physically resist Israel’s enforcement of the blockade.
We have gathered important facts about the organizations behind the Audacity of Hope. Since this information is relevant to US national security interests, it is vital for all American citizens to be informed.
The Audacity of Hope will NOT deliver a single Humanitarian Aid item to Gazans
The “Audacity of Hope” will not carry a single humanitarian aid item on board. The only “Humanitarian aid” items generated by the American flotilla are letters of support to the people of Gaza. Interestingly, these letters were already sent to Gaza. The only purpose for the boat is to create an international confrontation with a strong US ally. Since the Audacity of Hope will not deliver a single humanitarian aid item, it is only logical to examine who is behind the Audacity of Hope, and to understand the organizer’s goals
Organizers of the “Audacity of Hope”
The “Audacity of Hope” is organized and sponsored by USTOGAZA, a coalition of organizations who together joined to break Israel’s counter-terror naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. USTOGAZA states that its mission is to:
“challenge U.S foreign policy and affirm the universal obligation to uphold international law and human rights”
Included in the coalition of organizations that make up the USTOGAZA is the notorious Free Gaza Movement. The Free Gaza Movement is an umbrella organization responsible for coordinating past flotillas as a part of a sustained campaign to break the blockade of Gaza.
Additional partners and the web of terror-ties
The Free Gaza Movement partnered with the IHH, an organization that according to the US Treasury Department is part of a Saudi-based, Hamas-created umbrella group of Muslim charities called Union of Goods. The Union of Goods was created to transfer funds to Hamas through a web of charitable organizations. According to the State Department, some of the funds transferred by the Union of Good have compensated families of suicide bombers. The Union of Goods was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2008 by the US Treasury Department.
A list of contributions on IHH’s website reveals that IHH gave millions in cash to Hamas officials at the Gaza Health Ministry.
The Free Gaza Movement has had more than incidental interactions with Hamas. The key members of the organizers are well-known for their ties with global Jihad, al-Qaeda and Hamas. During a Free Gaza Movement visit to Gaza in August 2008, the activists met with Hamas leaders, including Prime Minister Haniyeh who presented the Free Gaza Movement activists with medals.
The organizer’s ultimate goal is to weaken the U.S “war on terror”
USTOGAZA is employing the Audacity of Hope as a part of a campaign that aims to change U.S policy in the fight against terrorist organizations. The Gaza blockade is in place to weaken Hamas, a designated Foreign Terror Organization by the United State government. Consequently, the blockade and blockade-breaking attempts are part of a dispute relating to the United States and its fight against terrorist organization. USTOGAZA is clearly trying to defeat measures taken by the United States regarding Hamas, Gaza and the Middle East Peace Process. Successive US administrations have stated that the disruption of the Middle East Peace Process constitutes “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”
Read the whole entry here
And remember: There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza
For the most accurate information on the Flotilla, please visit Gaza Flotilla 101
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
New Shopping Mall being built in Gaza
From an article by Khaled Abu Toameh in the Jerusalem Post
"The biggest Palestinian shopping mall is scheduled to open in the Gaza Strip in mid-June.
This will be the second shopping mall to open in the Gaza Strip in a year. Last July, Palestinians opened a two-story mall that includes a supermarket, international clothing stores, a food court, beauty products, a children’s playground and a restaurant..."
The modern three-story complex is the first of its kind in the Palestinian territories, said Ehab al-Issawi, executive director of the Al-Hayat Tureed Company that owns the mall.
Issawi explained that the first floor would house a huge supermarket that would consist of various departments offering food and household items as well as stationary.
The second floor would have many clothes and gift shops, while the third floor would become home to a large restaurant, a modern coffee shop, a cinema and entertainment sites for children."
Its become increasingly obvious that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The flotilla proponents have begun abandon their "starving Gazans" rhetoric and are focusing on "breaking the siege"- or rather, opening the waters to shipments of Iranian weapons.
"The biggest Palestinian shopping mall is scheduled to open in the Gaza Strip in mid-June.
This will be the second shopping mall to open in the Gaza Strip in a year. Last July, Palestinians opened a two-story mall that includes a supermarket, international clothing stores, a food court, beauty products, a children’s playground and a restaurant..."
The modern three-story complex is the first of its kind in the Palestinian territories, said Ehab al-Issawi, executive director of the Al-Hayat Tureed Company that owns the mall.
Issawi explained that the first floor would house a huge supermarket that would consist of various departments offering food and household items as well as stationary.
The second floor would have many clothes and gift shops, while the third floor would become home to a large restaurant, a modern coffee shop, a cinema and entertainment sites for children."
Its become increasingly obvious that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The flotilla proponents have begun abandon their "starving Gazans" rhetoric and are focusing on "breaking the siege"- or rather, opening the waters to shipments of Iranian weapons.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
2011 Gaza Flotilla: The latest Ship of Fools
The organizers of the Gaza Flotillas have announced a May 31st departure, bafflingly describing it as "the first anniversary of Tel Aviv's deadly attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla" (Since when does Tel Aviv have its own attack force?)
As reported on Press TV, the 15-ship flotilla will be twice as big as last year's convoy and carry a total of 1,500 people, including activists from Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Canada and the United States.
They go on to claim that "Tel Aviv laid an economic siege on the Gaza Strip in June 2007 after the democratically-elected government of Hamas took control of the enclave", yet have not provided any evidence that this city of 400,000 has its own foreign policy.
The leader of the Turkish organization IHH, Bülent Yildirim, which participated in the last flotilla, announced earlier this month: “We are not afraid to die as shaheeds [martyrs]” and that the use of force and violence may occur.
The flotilla is scheduled in spite of the International Red Cross's statement "there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza"
Israel delivers more than a ton of aid per person to Gaza. About 50,000 tons of goods and humanitarian aid are transferred to Gaza biweekly. Currently, 250 trucks cross from Israel into Gaza daily.
However, other sources indicate that the flotilla is having trouble recruiting volunteers and raising funds.
From Ynet:
"IHH officials, an Islamic aid group that operates the Mavi Marmara, announced they plan to postpone the flotilla until after the June 12 parliamentary elections.
IHH, which says it plans to send 100 to 150 people on the flotilla, is inclined to launch its ship after the vote for fear controversy could disrupt the election debate. The group communicates closely with the Turkish government, but says it does not need "permission" to send its boat to Gaza.
However recent reports claimed there is another reason for the delay: Many of the activists who signed up for the mission canceled after learning the flotilla is illegal and might lead to their arrest by Israel.
It also turns out the Turkish organizers have been largely unsuccessful in raising donations to fund the operation. Many ship owners refused to loan their vessels for the cause, fearing they might be confiscated by Israel. Now the activists are forced to buy the ships themselves."
Perhaps the recent death of ISM operative Vittorio Arrigoni, and the apparent inability of Hamas to guarantee the safety of international activists has had a chilling affect on recruitment
As reported on Press TV, the 15-ship flotilla will be twice as big as last year's convoy and carry a total of 1,500 people, including activists from Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Canada and the United States.
They go on to claim that "Tel Aviv laid an economic siege on the Gaza Strip in June 2007 after the democratically-elected government of Hamas took control of the enclave", yet have not provided any evidence that this city of 400,000 has its own foreign policy.
The leader of the Turkish organization IHH, Bülent Yildirim, which participated in the last flotilla, announced earlier this month: “We are not afraid to die as shaheeds [martyrs]” and that the use of force and violence may occur.
The flotilla is scheduled in spite of the International Red Cross's statement "there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza"
Israel delivers more than a ton of aid per person to Gaza. About 50,000 tons of goods and humanitarian aid are transferred to Gaza biweekly. Currently, 250 trucks cross from Israel into Gaza daily.
However, other sources indicate that the flotilla is having trouble recruiting volunteers and raising funds.
From Ynet:
"IHH officials, an Islamic aid group that operates the Mavi Marmara, announced they plan to postpone the flotilla until after the June 12 parliamentary elections.
IHH, which says it plans to send 100 to 150 people on the flotilla, is inclined to launch its ship after the vote for fear controversy could disrupt the election debate. The group communicates closely with the Turkish government, but says it does not need "permission" to send its boat to Gaza.
However recent reports claimed there is another reason for the delay: Many of the activists who signed up for the mission canceled after learning the flotilla is illegal and might lead to their arrest by Israel.
It also turns out the Turkish organizers have been largely unsuccessful in raising donations to fund the operation. Many ship owners refused to loan their vessels for the cause, fearing they might be confiscated by Israel. Now the activists are forced to buy the ships themselves."
Perhaps the recent death of ISM operative Vittorio Arrigoni, and the apparent inability of Hamas to guarantee the safety of international activists has had a chilling affect on recruitment
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