Gaza scams continue aided and abetted by UN
One of the longest running fraudulent schemes in recent times must surely be the continuing international funding of the terrorist entity known as Gaza…writes Michael Kuttner.
Michael Kuttner
Sometimes described by observers as an appendix, this inflamed appendage wedged between Israel and Egypt has been erupting with vile pus ever since the former pulled out and cleansed the territory of any Jewish presence. Instead of utilising the abandoned agricultural infrastructure and houses to benefit its Arab residents the “democratically elected” terror masters of Gaza preferred to destroy anything which might improve the lives of those still condemned by their own leaders to perpetual refugee status.
Herein lays the nub of the dire situation which Gazans find themselves in today and which the international community and fellow “progressives” continue like duped lemmings to fund. Not only are your tax moneys being poured into a bottomless black hole but donor nations are also contributing to the continuation of an untenable future.
Israel is not exempt from this act of collective madness because successive Governments of various political ideologies have also participated in this lunatic and deluded folly.
It is vitally important to get one thing straight right from the beginning if one is ever likely to make sense of the mess which now envelopes Gaza.
The rulers of this environmentally ravaged and economically self-inflicted piece of territory are entirely responsible for all misfortunes now afflicting them. Conveniently and deliberately ignored by media and politicians alike is the stark fact that a state of war exists between Hamas and Israel. The publicised aim of Hamas is the eradication of the Jewish State and the murder of its Jewish citizens. Fellow terror groups funded by Iran are willing partners in this enterprise while our much touted “peace partners” are also bed partners. Until recently, Abbas, the President for life of the kleptocracy based in Ramallah, has managed to fool most of the world but gradually the truth is seeping out from the undergrowth.
Continuing in the footsteps of Arab leaders who since 1947 continually rejected any attempt to live in peace and prosperity with Israel the current rulers of Gaza, blinded by pure hate, are the authors of their own misery. This stark reality unfortunately is deliberately pushed under the carpet by all those who instead prefer to blame Israel for the chaos and deprivation now engulfing the purveyors of Jew-hatred.
It has always historically been much easier to blame Jews for self-inflicted misfortunes and this knee-jerk phenomenon continues today with the Jewish State replacing individual Jews as the eternal scapegoat of humanity. As in the past the cacophony of condemnatory outpouring involves not only the so-called intelligentsia, academics and self crowned “enlightened” members of society but also self loathing individuals for whom the spectacle of Jews fighting back is embarrassing and anathema.
This is no more evident than in the reaction to Israel’s defence of its borders against inflamed mobs intent on mayhem, murder and arson.
In London and the USA and most probably elsewhere motley groups including reform leaders gathered to recite Kaddish for Hamas terrorists killed in the act of perpetrating violence. This travesty of Judaism is very selective however as these same individuals never publically recited Kaddish for murdered Jewish men, women, children and babies who were slain in their homes as they celebrated Shabbat. The rent a crowd Israel haters in various countries likewise have never been seen marching and demonstrating against the massacres in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, the Turkish campaign to eliminate Kurds or the other innumerable real violations of human rights in many other parts of the world.
This selective hypocrisy is no more evident than at the UN and its associated bodies where every Monday and Thursday a resolution is passed accompanied by rhetoric full of lies condemning Israel. The latest farce in the theatre of the absurd occurred this week. Only 8 nations in the General Assembly voted against another Arab/Islamic sponsored resolution which this time condemned Israel and failed to mention Hamas as the real source of terror. To its credit Australia was one of those eight countries to oppose this resolution. As usual New Zealand was missing in action and once again failed to stand up to the immoral majority.
Meanwhile UN member states merrily continue to fund groups promoting hate education and terror not only in Gaza but also in areas under the control of the PA. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary donor nations prefer to believe that there are no scams and that everything is Glatt Kosher.
Israeli authorities are also complicit in this farce. Cement we supply to Gaza is diverted for building terror tunnels instead of clinics and schools and rehabilitating infrastructure. Electricity we supply is likewise used for nefarious purposes and who knows how many essential supplies which are trucked daily into Gaza never reach the inhabitants.
The latest examples of scams coming back to hurt us makes one wonder how much longer we must put up with this.
The kites which carry incendiary material and bombs designed to burn and maim Israelis were donated to Gaza children by Japan. Instead of children enjoying flying kites which was the intended purpose they have been hijacked by Hamas terrorists in their continuing war against us.
It was announced this week that helium which Israel provides for Gaza hospitals have instead been diverted to inflate balloons carrying explosives and inflammable items. Here we have another classic example of humanitarian aid provided by Israel and intended for the benefit of Gaza patients being used to harm and destroy Israelis and their homes. What clearer message can one have? Yet the world media and politicians are silent and mute in the face of these continuing scandals. Some dreamers believe that if only we would pour more millions into the coffers of Hamas, build airports and offshore islands where goods can be smuggled and offer employment in Israel then miraculously peace would break out. Unfortunately that delusory scheme has been tried before and all it accomplishes is more rockets and terror. Only when poisoned minds have been cleansed can real peace and prosperity be envisaged.
We must proclaim as loudly as possible: you want the humanitarian situation in Gaza to improve and life made tolerable? There is a very simple solution. Stop your terror war against Israel, recognize the Jewish right to its historic homeland, cease inculcating your children and adults with hate and lies, use the billions provided in aid for the benefit of your citizens instead of financing terror and start to provide your perpetual refugees with employment, homes and hope instead of feeding them false mirages of a destroyed Israel. In addition as a first step you must return those Israelis currently held captive and the bodies of soldiers to their families.
Unless and until all these scams stop, forget about any sort of further gestures. Politicians and others should take note of Mark Twain’s perceptive words:
“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”
Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel and is J-Wire’s correspondent in the region.
