Trouble in Arafatistan

[NewsGuy]

Today was an interesting day in Arafat's brutal and corrupt dictatorship. Thousands of Palestinians gathered to demonstrate their discontent in front of the Ra'is' Gaza headquarters. "Work!," "Bread!" they demanded. It seems that the economic disaster brought upon the Palestinians by Arafat and other terrorist leaders is finally reaching critical levels. With nearly 80% unemployment among Palestinians, it is no surprise that the people are angry -- and with good reason.

And so the crowd of 4,000 enraged Gazans broke through the gates of Arafat's compound, while the dictator's guards looked on without lifting a finger. Arafat himself, the cause of the people's misery, was still sitting in Ramallah scheming to maintain his iron grip on the unemployed and impoverished Palestinian people. At the same time, European nations announced that they would support Arafat if "elected" again.

[Vic]

Originally posted by NewsGuy
At the same time, European nations announced that they would support Arafat if "elected" again.

I wonder whether the "if" represents a slight progress.

[L@mplighterM]

A civil war would do nicely.

[cerulean]

With nearly 80% unemployment among Palestinians, it is no surprise that the people are angry -- and with good reason.

This is an area that I don't know much about--the economic setup in Gaza. Literally how are familiies supporting themselves? How does the welfare infrastructure work? I recall reading a while back that 70% of the Gaza population is on food programs, but I don't have any idea what that means. Presumably no family is at risk of eviction for non-payment of rent (or are they), but what would be the typical expenses of a family in Gaza, and what is the typical income?

Birth rates in Gaza are greater than seven children per woman. I quoted elsewhere from this source:
From
http://www.popcouncil.org/mediacent...ses/pdr900.html

The Palestinian pattern

Many factors that typically lead to lower fertility did not have the expected effect on Palestinian birth rates. Improvements in education and health care and a high rate of urbanization—all present in the West Bank and Gaza territories— typically lead to reduced fertility. According to Fargues, all these factors have been neutralized by the state of belligerence and its side effects: in this case, economic hardship and migration of the labor force to the oil-rich countries of the Gulf. Under these conditions, one would have expected the norm of a large family to wane, given the need to reduce the number of dependents. But the financial consequences of large families are mitigated by aid from organizations such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Hamas, which ensure that childrearing costs do not weigh directly on the family alone.

Presuming this is the case, I'd be curious how much each of UNWRA, the PLO, and Hamas each contribute to a typical family's upkeep.

[sharonbn]

For me, reading the article about the demonstration outside Arafat's HQ in ynet was a boost of optimism

maybe, just maybe, this is "not the end, but the beginning of the end" of Arafat. Like I said in other threads, I believe it is the Palestinian people themselves that should cast arafat aside and replace him with a more honest and moderate leadership.

ynet qoutes Israeli official diplomatic sources saying "The demonstration of the unemployed in Gaza is the beginning of a new process. It may well escalate to the point where Arafat will have to resign."

The same sources estimate that Arafat's popularity has plunged to an all time low 30%.

Another surprising news item comes from the labour party general assembly meeting that opened this evening (Monday, July 1st). Foreign affairs minister, Shimon Peres, provided the evening's headlines in his speech by declaring that Arafat is no longer a valid partner for future negotiations.
Peres said "The American president calls upon Israel to execute actual steps to support the establishment of a Palestinian state. He [the American President] ruled Arafat out as a suitable partner for peace negotiations, and we should look for an alternative partner."
The assembly will last two days and will focus on the rivalry between defense minister Fuad Ben Eliezer and KM Haim Ramon over the leadership of the party. Both men have outlined their plans for dealing with Palestinian terrorism and resuming peace talks.

[Mr. Pumps]

Originally posted by L@mplighterM
A civil war would do nicely.

I really don't think Israelis want to find themselves in a caretaker position in Palestinian territory.

[L@mplighterM]

Here’s an interesting poll that indicates that 51% of Arabs under 20 want to immigrate to the west, the survey was conducted in 22 Arab countries. I might note that the under 20 equals 38% of the total population of 280 million.

The reason they give is that they feel that their countries are not living up to their full potential. That’s an understatement if I ever heard one.

I imagine that the WB and GS are included in the poll.

Article in Danish:
FN: Unge arabere vil til Vesten
51 procent af unge arabere under 20 år vil forlade deres hjemlande til fordel for et land i Vesteuropa eller USA. Det viser tal fra en ny FN-rapport, der også viser, at de unge udgør 38 procent af hele den arabiske befolkning på 280 millioner, skriver Politiken i dag.

http://www.berlingske.dk/artikel:aid=196234/
Hell that’s only about 106.4 million. If its assumed that half is females and they each have ONLY six kids that’ll equal about 414 million in 20 years. Supposing 50-80% turn out to be Fundamentalists and or Extremist it doesn’t take much imagination to visualize what the future will be like.


I can just imagine a picture of Mohammed on the Greenbacks. “In Allah we Trust”

E.plurum Adolph.

Good Night!

PS


Divert all your investments to potato sack futures.

[cerulean]

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/02/in...st/02ARAB.html

A blunt new report by Arab intellectuals commissioned by the United Nations warns that Arab societies are being crippled by a lack of political freedom, the repression of women and an isolation from the world of ideas that stifles creativity.

The survey, the Arab Human Development Report 2002, will be released today in Cairo.

The report notes that while oil income has transformed the landscapes of some Arab countries, the region remains "richer than it is developed." Per capita income growth has shrunk in the last 20 years to a level just above that of sub-Saharan Africa. Productivity is declining. Research and development are weak or nonexistent. Science and technology are dormant.

Intellectuals flee a stultifying — if not repressive — political and social environment, it says.

Arab women, the report found, are almost universally denied advancement. Half of them still cannot read or write. The maternal mortality rate is double that of Latin America and four times that of East Asia.
...

[Mediocrates]

Plus, economically they don't make anything. They pump oil and that's about it. They don't even refine their own product because there aren't enough skilled people to run the processes. Ok so here's the score sheet:


Light industry - point to anything, any small appliance, shirt, shoe, car part, window, textile (other than that fabulous Bokhara you simply MUST have) made in an Arab country.

Media - any news, broadcast, entertainment, movie, music you consume? (Ok there are two Iranian movies in Blockbuster)

Heavy industry - are there any Arab made drillbits, mining equipment, airplanes or steel?

Food - ok that's a gimme, Arab countries do export certain fruits, nuts, grains.

Ideas - read any good Arab books recently?

Education - how many western students are enrolled in Arab universities?

Patents - how many patents were filed based on work done in Arab countries in the last 50 years?

The only word that comes to mind is "Parasitic".

[cerulean]

This site, which appears to be Hamas-influenced or run, reported on the demonstration, including allegations of corruption in the Palestinian Authority.

http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/daily_news/index.htm#2

(The rest of the site is quite fascinating from a propaganda point of view as well.)

[Vic]

Originally posted by Mediocrates
The only word that comes to mind is "Parasitic".

Who is the host?

[Mediocrates]

According to a report on NPR today there were 330 books published in or translated into Arabic last year. The category is 'creative works' eg. no tech manuals and purely functional utilitarian books. Moreover 0.06% of the population in Arab countries has access to the internet.

[L@mplighterM]

I distinctly heard President Bush mention how wonderful Islam was/is and how it’s contributed to the development of civilization. Personally I couldn’t care less about Muslim countries and I wouldn’t invest a nickel there.
Hey! Why complain they generate work in the west. People work so they can send them a piece of the action. Be Happy! It’s only money.

[JustPat]

Originally posted by sharonbn Another surprising news item comes from the labour party general assembly meeting that opened this evening (Monday, July 1st). Foreign affairs minister, Shimon Peres, provided the evening's headlines in his speech by declaring that Arafat is no longer a valid partner for future negotiations.

Now that's progress.

[JustPat]

Originally posted by Mr. Pumps I really don't think Israelis want to find themselves in a caretaker position in Palestinian territory.

You mean like they are now? It seems to me that Israel taking the title of "caretaker" would mean business as usual.