Anti-Semitism is up in Australia: Quel surprise. It’s up in a lot of places this year.
Between October 1, 2010, and September 30 this year, there were 17 physical assaults or property damage, 128 incidents of direct harassment and intimidation, five threatening phone calls, 301 emails, 48 incidents of anti-Jewish graffiti, and 18 other incidents.
And that’s not counting anti-Israel incidents or incidents that couldn’t easily be qualified as anti-Semitic instead of anti-Israel (although, frankly, every violent anti-Israel incident can pretty much be traced to Jew-hatred).
Even the good news is bad: The AP writes about Israel easing Gaza export restrictions, although under “tight” control. Funny how the AP can’t figure out a reason that Israel may need to tightly control Palestinian goods shipped through Israel. Hm. I can’t think of anything. What’s that? Weapons and terrorists smuggled out of Gaza in the shipping containers? Pshaw! Pshaw, I say!
So much for the big reconciliation: Hamas and the PA are going to stick with their own governments until new elections. In other words, the status quo. Meantime, Israel has suspended tax transfers and now the world is having the vapors because someone in the foreign ministry said something about letting Gaza fend for itself regarding water and electricity if the PA and Hamas join forces.
“The foreign ministry is examining the possibility of Israel pulling out of the Gaza Strip in terms of infrastructure,” Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told the daily Yediot Aharonot website.
Wow, stop the presses. And the PA prime minister–the one Hamas wants to get rid of because he interferes with their ability to steal money–says the sanctions are really starting to hurt. Say, they’re such great pals with Egypt now, let Egypt supply them with water and fuel.
Oh yeah, we’ll hit Turkey, too: Iran is threatening just about everyone in sight if Israel or the U.S. make a move on its nuclear plants. Hm, attacking a U.S. Army base in a foreign nation… where has Iran done that before? Let me think, it’s on the tip of my tongue… oh, right. Iraq. Lebanon. Yep, they’re serious. Only this time, I think our soldiers will be a bit more prepared than the Iranians may wish.
Or, as an alternative, perhaps the Palestinians could start paying for their electricity. To the best of my knowledge, that which they get comes from Israel and the Palis don’t pay for it. Yet another example of Israeli oppression.
Israel does actually bill them for the electricity. The PA told Hamas last month they were going to stop paying Gaza’s electricity bill by end of the year. Isn’t reconciliation wonderful?
http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2011/10/pa-to-stop-paying-gazas-electric-bills.html
They managed to get water and electricity between 1948 and 1967 without Israel’s help. There’s no reason why they should require Israel’s help now. But they’re ready for their own state, aren’t they?