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Last update - 13:01 13/06/2008
A year after Gaza takeover, Hamas shows no sign of ending violence
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel, Gaza Strip, Hamas

"For many of us, the coup in Gaza meant the end of the Palestinian dream of a single Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank, with a connection between them," said P., a resident of Gaza City's Sajiyeh neighborhood, on the one-year anniversary of the coup in which Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip.

"Israel will not agree to a Palestinian state in Gaza as long as it is under Hamas control, and the coup divided the Palestinian people in two," he continued. "Even in the Diaspora, Palestinians are divided between Hamas and Fatah supporters."

Beyond the coup's negative implications for Palestinian politics, its negative implications for the personal lives of Gaza residents have been enormous. Yet no small number of Gazans also mentioned positive changes that have taken place in the Strip in the past year.
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"The age of the armed gangs has ended," explained B., a former Fatah member. "I remember getting in a dispute with a member of a large family. I went to the police to file an assault complaint. The police advised me to drop it so I wouldn't get hurt.

'Today, you will not encounter anything like that. Family connections are no longer of any importance, and anyone who violates the law is punished. The chaos, the stolen cars, the extortion and threats are all gone."

A., a resident of Beit Hanun, also reported a substantial improvement in personal security. According to him, there are fewer internal conflicts and gang wars. "I no longer feel the need to be constantly armed for fear of encountering someone else armed."

But A. is not unequivocal statement about the improvement in the situation. "When Hamas took power, it brought about a dramatic improvement in the enforcement of traffic laws," he said. "There was no order in that sphere in the past, but now, drivers must even get car registrations. But now, there are almost no cars on the road because of the gas shortage. So what did we gain?"

It seems that even the improvement in personal safety is relative. From the June 2007 coup until the beginning of this month, human rights groups say, 118 Palestinians have been killed in internecine fighting. Hundreds of Fatah members populate the jails as the result of political persecution, and arrests are carried out almost every day.

"We live better from the personal safety perspective," said S. "But what is it all worth on an empty stomach and an empty pocket? There was a dream of making Gaza into the Singapore of the Middle East, but we have become Afghanistan."

On the list of pros and cons for Gaza under Hamas rule, poverty is the most significant con. About 50% of Gaza residents are unemployed. Two thirds live below the poverty line and need international aid to survive. Close to 90% of factories have been shuttered by lack of raw materials due to Israel's blockade. The construction sector is paralyzed. Most staples can be purchased only at sky-high prices. A. says tahini prices have doubled this year. So have fruit prices.

"Hamas gives out gas coupons every week," he said. "It's like living in the old Soviet Union. There is electricity three to four hours a day. It's impossible to go abroad, and impossible to travel with the children inside Gaza because of the gas shortage."

Poverty inevitably brings religious radicalization. According to B., not all Gazans have suddenly become religious, but many are growing beards and going to mosques to prove to Hamas that they are drawing closer to religion, and to the organization itself.

"Once, there were mostly older people at morning prayers," he said. "Now, more than ever, young people attend those prayers, too."

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      1.   islam with no mercy 04:53  |  Akiva P 13/06/08
      2.   fair? 05:41  |  . 13/06/08
      3.   still wating for Hamas to act like an actual government 05:44  |  David G 13/06/08
      4.   And Olmert, Barak & Livni Hope for A Cease Fire 05:47  |  Dish It Out 13/06/08
      5.   "A year after Gaza takeover" Gaza was turned into a dump & 05:56  |  Akram Zekaria 13/06/08
      6.   Akram Zekaria@#5 06:46  |  Akiva P 13/06/08
      7.   Day to Day 07:07  |  Ron 13/06/08
      8.   Akram Zekaria, Can`t seem to help blaming the victims... 07:35  |  Dutch 13/06/08
      9.   The people of Gaza. 07:46  |  Jean Van Daem 13/06/08
      10.   Propaganda 09:24  |  Fritz T. 13/06/08
      11.   Blame Israel, for its Starvation Blockade 09:28  |  Clickfool 13/06/08
      12.   Sewage 09:31  |  Robert Haymond 13/06/08
      13.   filth, sewage, self-respect? 09:55  |  Akiva P 13/06/08
      14.   Israel not agree to Pal state in Gaza, Hamas to do so by for 10:00  |  yossi cronenberg 13/06/08
      15.   what about israel...? 10:00  |  ravi 13/06/08
      16.   HAMAS IS READY FOR 1000 YEARS VIOLENCE 10:14  |  indrajaya 13/06/08
      17.   Clickfool 10:18  |  Michael 13/06/08
      18.   No IKF daily killing 10:19  |  Dav 13/06/08
      19.   Israel is starving them though 10:22  |  Marilyn 13/06/08
      20.   All problemes in Palestine 10:29  |  Dav 13/06/08
      21.   Why does Israel always expect its victims to lick its hand? 10:30  |  Natallie Durson 13/06/08
      22.   Immunity from Haaretz and bloggers 10:32  |  Dror 13/06/08
      23.   Very well put #5 10:38  |  Johnny 13/06/08
      24.   The fact that Haaretz entertains 10:53  |  Dror 13/06/08
      25.   Dutch an update for you from Iraq 11:04  |  Gil 13/06/08
      26.   #21 Delusional Durson 11:10  |  DesMnsDave 13/06/08
      27.   Clickfool #11 11:12  |  S 13/06/08
      28.   Why blame Hamas? 11:26  |  MaryRose 13/06/08
      29.   Clickfool (#11) Amazing, WOW, Really 11:50  |  Gil 13/06/08
      30.   Clickfool (#11) Amazing, WOW, Really 11:53  |  Gil 13/06/08
      31.   DesMnsDave - You are really confused 12:09  |  Natallie Durson 13/06/08
      32.   #1, AKIVA, no moron, jewish with no mercy 12:10  |  VIPER 13/06/08
      33.   Hamas Shows No Sign of Ending Violence 12:20  |  JordsanisPalestine 13/06/08
      34.   The two faces of Islam bearded and anti-West and shaven and 13:37  |  r 13/06/08
      35.   Happy anniversary Hamas! 14:05  |  Murray the Mongoose 13/06/08
      36.   #32 VIPER, Your logic escapes me 14:12  |  Albert Einstein 13/06/08
      37.   No responsibility for Gaza 14:15  |  JJ Burke 13/06/08
      38.   Natalie D/ no.31- I see you love Hamas rule 14:20  |  Arthur 13/06/08
      39.   Haram 14:35  |  JJ Burke 13/06/08
      40.   60 years after WB takeover, Israel shows no signs of ending siege 14:42  |  Mark B. 13/06/08
      41.   "No reason not to return Golan in advance of a peace agreement" 15:14  |  Freethinker 13/06/08
      42.   I feel good 15:30  |  Stranger 13/06/08
      43.   8# Dutch grow up for your sake and for those whom you claim to l 15:32  |  Akram Zekaria 13/06/08
      44.   6# Akiva P 15:38  |  Akram Zekaria 13/06/08
      45.   Clickfool # 11. 15:47  |  David Nigel Braham 13/06/08
      46.   http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7451691.stm 15:48  |  Dav 13/06/08
      47.   absurd 15:49  |  khairi janbek 13/06/08
      48.   Herr Kliky and Gaza unemployment 16:06  |  utagawa 13/06/08
      49.   Mark B # 40 16:18  |  ChanahS 13/06/08
      50.   Gil, pointing out other peoples` HR abuses won`t work 17:36  |  Dutch 13/06/08
      51.   #43 Re: The Palestinians are not improving their lot 18:07  |  Dutch 13/06/08
      52.   Gaza Unemployment 18:12  |  utagawa 13/06/08
      53.   #46 Dav 18:31  |  Chris Linthwaite 13/06/08
      54.   Retake Gaza now !!! 18:42  |  JP 13/06/08
      55.   #16 - ignorant indrajaya 19:00  |  MichaelF 13/06/08
      56.   Until Palestine is free, there will be no peace! 19:26  |  Tom Clark 13/06/08
      57.   Why should they? 20:07  |  KUTW 13/06/08
      58.   Chris Linthwaite (#50) Re DAV 20:47  |  Gil 13/06/08
      59.   Clickfool appropriately named 21:10  |  jj 13/06/08
      60.   Tom Clark, peace is a 2 way street, not a one-way back country 21:14  |  jj 13/06/08
      61.   Dutch (#48) the wall is not in violation of no international law 21:32  |  Gil 13/06/08
      62.   A year later the root causes continue to persist 21:42  |  Michael N 13/06/08
      63.   Until Palestine is free 21:57  |  Bill H. 13/06/08
      64.   #32, VIPER...to Akiva 22:21  |  Silvienne 13/06/08
      65.   #43, Akram Zekaria... 22:31  |  Silvienne 13/06/08
      66.   Natallie`s nonsense 23:21  |  Margaret Connell 13/06/08
      67.   Living in poverty in Gaza - the facts of the situation 00:07  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 14/06/08
      68.   Meshaal works for Iran not the Palestinians 00:17  |  Bruce 14/06/08
      69.   64 Silvie wants Akram to leave 00:23  |  Bill H. 14/06/08
      70.   HAMAS