UNRWA chief: We're in danger of alienating the still unradicalized Palestinians--all three of them

Grim news:

The head of the U.N. agency responsible for aiding Palestinian refugees said Wednesday that Israel's near economic blockade of the Gaza Strip is fueling support for extremists and shattering hopes for a peaceful future.

"They're trying to punish those who've taken control of Gaza but in fact they're punishing everybody inside Gaza, a very small percentage of whom support the people who are controlling Gaza right now," Karen Koning AbuZayd of the United Nations Works and Relief Agency said . . .

"A very small percentage"? More than "a very small percentage" supports Al-Qaeda.

"We at least have these two military crossings we're using and getting in just enough humanitarian supplies," AbuZayd said. "Israel is very concerned that there is no humanitarian disaster there. There will always be enough food and medicine, but these are very basic rations that are coming in."

AbuZayd said the UNRWA director in Gaza met his counterparts from the Israeli Defense Forces Wednesday morning to discuss the deteriorating situation.

She said they seem to have come to some agreement - "certainly (there was) some sympathy that something needs to be done to make up for these decreasing supplies and the continually decreasing economy of Gaza.

"The point that my director made ... and the point that we are making is we're losing the fight to those who are on the extreme end of the groups in Gaza - and they're the ones that are benefitting by this isolation and this continual squeeze on Gaza and its economy and the people of Gaza," AbuZayd said . . .

Does the "extreme end of the groups" include Hamas? Aren't they the legitimate, Democratically-elected government of Gaza? So let's get this straight: The Gazans have voted themselves into a situation in which a humanitarian disaster would actually benefit the ruling party? I mean, Hamas had to take control, right? The collaborators and stooges of Fatah were thwarting the implementation of the popular mandate, right? And now the Gazans have changed their minds, and they are groaning under the yoke of the hated Hamas? Would they be grateful if someone liberated them? Stay tuned . . .

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Tags: Israel, Palestinians, tiny extremist minorities