UN official to Haaretz: Israel 'nourishing despair' in Gaza
Failed Israeli policies creating 'gangster-friendly economy', John Holmes says.
By Akiva Eldar Tags: Hamas Gaza Israel newsThe combination of diplomatic caution and British understatement threatened to turn my interview with John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, into a trap of boredom. However, perhaps due to his approaching retirement, Holmes came out with several incisive, even scathing remarks.
This summer, after three and a half years in office, Holmes will return to Britain to head an important research institute. He no longer has to fear the sharp tongue of Israeli officials, who see any criticism of Israel as a synonym for anti-Semitism.
This morning, after visiting the Gaza Strip and West Bank and meeting officials on both sides, including Hamas "technocrats", Holmes is going home dejected. As the official in charge of the UN's rescue mission in disaster areas such as Haiti, he knows what depression is.
In a previous interview with you more than a year ago, you suggested that Israel shake off the delusion that pressure on the Gaza Strip would lead to Hamas' downfall. In your visit to Gaza this week, did you have the impression that the blockade was weakening Hamas?
I don't think my voice alone would have changed Israeli policy. It is hard to be sure what exactly the objective of this policy is. Of the blockade, the siege, the collective punishment. It is hard to see that it has been achieved, because Hamas is still there, firmly in control. Meanwhile, the condition of the people there [in Gaza] remains grim.
How grim?
It depends on how you look at it. People are not starving in Gaza. There are plenty of goods available, some coming in through legitimate crossing points but mainly through the tunnels. While it relieves the pressure in a sense, it isn't good at all, because all it really does is encourage a smuggler-gangster economy, which incidentally benefits Hamas financially.
The smuggler-gangster economy is undermining some of the best legitimate forces in Gaza's civil society, which do exist, whatever people might think. It is therefore not in anyone's interest, certainly not in Israel's. So I think this policy continues to be ineffective and indeed counterproductive.
What the policy of the blockade is doing is not encouraging the forces you want to encourage. Gaza is not a nest of terrorists. For the most part there are people who just want to live ordinary lives, and they are being undermined by what's happening. So you are in danger of creating a generation of people who are nourished on despair.
Do you agree with Israel's claim that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza?
Even though there are plenty of goods available in Gaza, and that people should be able to get them, the problem is of course that most people have no money. Eighty percent of the people in Gaza are essentially dependent on outside food aid, either from UNWRA or the World Food Program. Not because there isn't food in the shops - there is - but they can't afford it, or they can't afford enough of it because any livelihoods that there were, any jobs that there were outside the government have effectively disappeared. Most private businesses have been destroyed, essentially by the blockade - bulldozed - and the rest finished off by Cast Lead.
Other than the people that work for Hamas, or are paid by the PA, there is no income, so people are forced to live on handouts.
What do you think will happen after Egypt completes its wall and closes the tunnels? How do you see Gaza's future?
If Egypt did complete the wall and effectively block all the tunnels, the amount of goods going in across the crossing points - if it remained at the current level - would be completely unsustainable.
The trouble is that most of the avenues that could lead to change are blocked.
If Gilad Shalit was released, although the link between his fate and the fate of 1.5 million people is not a reasonable one, that might at least lead to some improvement. It is unclear how great that improvement would be, but let's hope so. But that negotiation seems to have run into a dead end, and negotiations between Hamas and Fatah seem to be stuck, so it is hard to see how it can get any better.
I assume you've warned the Israeli authorities of the political implications. What response do you get from them?
The answer is A., Gilad Shalit, and B., we don't want to do anything that would benefit Hamas, or from which they would get credit, and C., we're not aiming to hurt ordinary Gazans. But they are being hurt.
Israel has certain responsibilities as to the siege in Gaza. Israel, as we see it, continues to be the occupying power. And it is not fulfilling those responsibilities as we believe it should.
The basic medical position [in Gaza] is not unreasonable, but there is a wider point which is not just about Gaza, but about the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where barriers, checkpoints and restricted movement means that access for many people to basic medical services is getting more and more difficult. The staff of hospitals in East Jerusalem can't get to work, and the patients can't get there either.
This is only one illustration of a much bigger problem of how restrictions of movement and difficulties of access to basic services is being cut off, and people can't do the things they used to be able to do.
Your division is responsible for many distressed areas worldwide. Why do you devote so much energy to this small place?
It is a small geographical area but also a very focused problem with very significant humanitarian problems - people facing eviction after living in one place for 60 years, because of settler pressure; the Bedouins in Area C increasingly being squeezed from all directions and finding it very difficult to survive.
But there are many more long-running problems, and every time I come back I don't find that things have improved. By and large the facts on the ground continue to go against the kind of settlement that everyone wants to see, which is the two-state solution.
What's your advice?
I feel depressed when I listen to and see what is going on, because I don't think it's going in the right direction. There is a need on the part of everybody to fully recognize that, but also to look to the long term. Where is this really going to finish off in the longer term, rather than thinking how I can manage the situation for the next six months.
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If there is a war there, then they have the right to shoot at you. Right?
Sometimes I wonder if countries ever weigh possible outcomes other than what they hope would happen such as Gaza. The plan was to create despair so that Hamas would be overthrown and Fatah would take it back. There were whispers of "maybe someone worse would take over if Hamas is toppled". Either that was a risk deemed acceptable or Sharon's government was stupid enough to believe it would end up as they wanted. Now not only is the worst case outcome happening but anti-Israel hatred has increased to the point where Israel as the Jewish State is under threat as at no time since 1948. What will it take for Israel to wake up and stop allowing the Sharons and Netanyahus of politicians lead it into destruction? Will the so-called peace camp ever stand up and stop the sinking ship? Despair is indeed the operative word and not only for Gazans but also for those of us who love and are committed to the existence of a democratic Jewish State.
...Just like Iran is hurt by the mullahs, Zimbabwe is hurt by Mugabe, Somalia by Somalis, Burma by the military junta, etc, etc, etc. This is typical UN antisemitism blaming Israel for crimes commited by extremist Palestinians, of which Israel needs to defend itself, ... where one and a half million Arabs are victims of a few tens of thousands of heavily armed religious terrorists.
Gina # 51 is right. Historically Arabs have kept other Arabs in bondage for their own political ambitions. Nothing new here. Do you really think that the Saudis for example gives a sh-- about 1.5 million palestinians ?
Come on folks !. The UN sources it's officials by advertising jobs on line open to any takers. The vast majority of UN Officials are third world failures and misfits from the developed world. The UN hires these people in a sort of affirmative action programme. That's why the UN has always been a joke.
If hamas truely controlled Gaza, the following would be happening: Foreign officials from France, EU, Turkey and other countries would go and inspect the damage; No embargos--goods and supples would flow into Gaza; borders would open to Eygpt and the Sea; and... Goldstone Report would not be so controversial.
... Lack of Israeli ideas. Originally, the reason for the siege on Gaza was to make the Gazans feel miserable compared to West Bankers who should feel their situation improving, so the people of Gaza would topple Hamas. When was the last time a people's revolt caused an Arab regime to fall? Arab regimes fall as a result of a military revolt, not "people power". The policy obviously failed to achieve its goal, especially since the West Bank was also not opened up to commerce. Now the story is: How can we lift the siege while Shalit remains captive? He has been held for three and a half years, so it is unlikely the new improved reason is working. How then does Israel see the future of Gaza? I think Israeli leaders simply don't know. They don't want to retake Gaza, which they had an opportunity to do in Cast Lead. But you never know what the future would bring. If the pot keeps boiling, there will eventually be an eruption, and the people without a clue would face the unhappy future.
"The health situation is as Holmes notes, not unreasonable which is English is synonymous with, not not reasonable which would mean, reasonable" Eli What form of gobbledy gook is that.
The thing you seem to forget is that Gaza, through its leadership, Hamas, is at war with Israel. Perhaps not a very effective war, but a war nevertheless. Japan did not send us truck loads of food and medicine and clothes between Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima. We did not send them anything either. Is this news to you? Every day, Israel DOES send scores of trucks of food, medicine, and clothes to Gaza. If I were in charge, not one truck would arrive, and I would stop all power, water, and fuel deliveries also. War they want, war they get.
Do you really believe that GHANDI and ISrael are same same. You must be the most insane person in the world. I guess ISRAEL is a pacifist nation right. Gert me right, I said Israel not JEWS(there is a difference).
When you say Gazans are fed and clothed, are they clothed as well as they should be? Has the Israeli blockade anything to do with the deficit?
As far as I can see this post was totally not responsive to anything in Miggy's post. What was your point?
Would the food and medicine situations be better if it were not for Israel's blockade? Since food and medicine can't be used to attack Israel, why continue not allowing them in?
When you lay down with dogs, you wake up with fleas.
that israel is interested in bettering Gazans livelihoods? I can understand the interest in doing so for teh people of the West bank, but it is clear Gazans want nothing to do with peace with israel nor leaving normal lives in a civilized world. if i were israel, i would be concerned with my security only when it comes to gaza...
UN Inspestector HOLMES, who in past shown his colours to more Green Red and white than Blue and white, notes that. The Medical Situation in Gaza is "not unreasonable", which in proper grammatical english means, REASONABLE. What is the USA medical situation like? I believe many democrats have termed it, UNREASONABLE, interesting... On Food, as he notes, "people aren't starving" he launches his discussion on the smugglers than notes that only 20 percent can afford the smugglers, ergo, 80percent are NOT STARVING OFF HANDOUTS and 20 percent are even better off. So if Israel is occupying a belligerent enclave, it is maintaining a reasonable medical situation and no one is starving AS PER UN INSPECTOR HOLMES. Do you think Israelis would be better off if weapons were able to flow freely into Gaza??? If reasonable measures are there for Gazans, Then What are you ascerting? Gazans overthrow Hamas and lets talk, have the balls like USA and French did, show us your colours
Hamas, and their cheerleaders in the Arab world, determines the fate of Gaza.
What would Israel have to lose speaking with Hamas ? appart from negociating a peace agreement which Israel does not want. I remember israeli leaders demonizing the PLO members, shamefully calling them "nazis" and so. "We will never speak with Arafat" they said. In the end Israekl spoke with Arafat. What is this policy ? strengthening one party, weakening the other. Israel plays with fire and in the end will lose.
hamas, as a thank you, sent explosive laiden barrels to israel's beaches. as holmes says himself, people in gaza are fed and clothed. if hamas wants economic growth, hamas must stop all terror and it must return gilad shalit.
A blockade is not an occupation. Get your definitions straight!
Yes Egypt is abiding by the peace agreement with Israel but that peace agreement does not reqauore Egypt to do anything illegal, unethical or against Egypts self interest. I guess Egypt is also scared of Hamas and the violent fundamentalism it spreads to the region.
What has the Gaza blockade achieved? NOTHING. Hamas is still in power, Al Qaeda-related factions have appeared, Israel's image abroad has been destroyed, Shalis is alas still a prisonner... and the whole situation seems like a dead end. This blockade is the worst mistake Israel has done in decades.
Israel still controls all the land and sea borders of Gaza (it dictates Egyptian policy on their own border), as well as the airspace and the humanitarian aid convoys. Israel has never ceased occupying Gaza.
Dear Under-Secretary-General John Holmes; As soon as Hamas agrees to a peace treaty with Israel (no half-assed hudnas allowed) specifying the 1950 armistice line as the border and including a prisoner exchange for Gilad Shalit, then the blockade can be lifted Otherwise, the status quo will continue indefinitly.
... at worst it is punitive and and futile... ... both ways, it is getting us nowhere, most likely it will boomerang back onto us painfully, mutually painful... ... there does not seem to be any creative thinking, at any level in this current hopeless government... ... it is an illusion that Israel is being 'strong'... we are merely in deep denial...
Like all muslim countries,Hamas thrive on the sufferings of their population.Lack of democracy and human rights,poverty,and illiteracy is their tools to divert the attention from the domestic problems,and put the blame for all things on Israel.Democracy,freedom,thriving economy,and peace with Israel is a political suicid for any muslim regime.Hamas knows that it would be their end if peace will be achieved with Israel,and that is why they will do anything to sabotage that.All Arab dictators biggest fear is peace with Israel.It is HARAM!!
"You know very well if Egypt opened its borders against Israeli wishes that Israel would begin whining about how they are aiding the enemy." [NYC Guy] Don't be so sure of that, Guy. If Egypt flung open the gates and took every single Gazan home to Cairo, Israel would cheer them on, lock the door, and try to contain their joy. Trust me.
It's just a little too simple to place the blame on Israel only. That will not help the people of Gaza or Israel. All of the parties need to be pressured to compromise. That's the only way.
One dosen't have to be Sherlock to know that Holmes is official of the "Muslim league"AKA the UN.Their failure to do anything in Ruanda,the Congo,Darfur,Iran.......and instead concentrat only on Gaza."Israel has certain responsibilities as to the seige in Gaza" Well Mr.Holmes,the UN has certain responsibilities to the death of millions in Africa,and the ME."Continues to be the occupying power"Tibet,the Basque,Corsica, Iraq,and Afghanistan are occupied,and i don't hear the UN admitting it.
As noted in my posts above even if we accept your argument and say gaza is occupied The health situation is as Holmes notes, not unreasonable which is English is synonymous with, not not reasonable which would mean, reasonable and as he notes people are not starving, 80 percent are okay on handouts an the remaining 20 percent are even beret as they can affrod the smuggled goods ao if the health situation is reasonable and people are fed, why does israel have to allow an enemy enclave that has only reaffirmed it's commitment to israels destruction through action and words, to import weapons? Food, okay sure everyones got to eat, medicine sure, even if in 1st world countries like USA it's not free, it should be and is in GAZA, and is reasonably accessible. So your bullshit, please elaborate the issue, israel can occupy gaza, gaza has attacked it thousands of times, but israel must maintain a reasonable standard of living, I wonder how it compares to places in the 3rd and Arab worl
may be contaminated by the known prejudices. Of course it is Israel 'nourishing despair' in the entity withing 67 borders that to the contrary to leftist antisemitic libel does not suffer of any starvation but unable to kill Jews. UN wants to help them...
One should remember that the palestinian population of Gaza is a population of refugees who lost everything (land and house) in 48 and were never allowed to return there.
But A. Abu El-Dar al Islam allegiance to dhimmitude under Sharia Law slavery can only concurr with his co-dhimmi John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, None of them would dare say : Hamas regime is 'nourishing despair' in Gaza , or that corrupt Fatah regime is 'nourishing despair' in Shkhem, Jenin, Muquata'a etc... They rather support the OIC-Arab League Amr Moussa funded 'Israel apartheid week' fashion than to break their allegiance to servitude . In spite of the 'Son of Hamas' revealing book.
so your complaints are without credibility. The word of a thief has no standing.
1
Holmes comments are all to the point. He is wrong in one comment: "The smuggler-gangster economy is undermining some of the best legitimate forces in Gaza's civil society, which do exist, whatever people might think. It is therefore not in anyone's interest, certainly not in Israel's." As most Israeli leaders are quite intelligent the conclusion can only be that Israel does think the "gangster economy" is in Israel's interest.
These people you're trying to convince don't give a shit about anybody in Gaza. If they'd lived in what is now the Czech Republic they'd have justified Terensienstadt as humane. Not a single child age 5 or younger in Gaza has known a single day without siege. Not a child under 15 in Gaza has known a single day without occupation or siege. That's over 60% of the Gaza population. But not one of those defending the Israeli politicians has a non-sadistic bone in their bodies. And nothing will change if Shalit is released or if Hamas disappeared.
Its abject failure to rid itself from Democrasy abusers (Arab block etc.) nurishes despair in hartz of all democracy loving World.
Hamas "'nourishing despair' in Gaza? Actually there is no "despair" - they live quite well within 67 borders though of course suffer tremendously of inability to kill Jews. Apparently UN wants to help them in this regard.
It is typical paranoidic opinion, that all the critics means to "hate or dislike". Do you hate your children when they are doing something "naughty"? What you think the Brittish could have done to stop the rockets? Even IDF - the mighty Israeli army -has not succeeded to stop them.
Are you sure, that something would change if Gilad would be free? Gaza has been an open "prison" controlled by IDF already a long time before the kidnapping and surely will be in the future, too.
Tell us how when Israel blockaded it before and even more after their so-called withdrawal. Didn't Dov Weinglass, Ariel Sharon's advisor say "they would put Gaza on a diet"? It was the plan all along.
"What arrogance! Surely this official knows that Egypt also has a border with Gaza so why has that Arab nation blocked it`s border as well?" You Israelis with your double speak. You know very well if Egypt opened its borders against Israeli wishes that Israel would begin whining about how they are aiding the enemy...so dont try that hasbara. They are trying to abide by the peace agreement. Thats just hilarious. You know very well Egypt cant even change the amount of troops at the border without Israel having a say about it.
Holmes represents an organisation who dislikes Israelis, who has done nothing about shooting rockets on Israeli cities. The fate of even one israeli does not interest them.
Anyone asking Israelis to care at all about Gazans must first ask why Hamas has held Gilad without visitors, without proper conditions, in complete violation of all humanitarian laws (from day one)? How dare they or anyone else ask Israel to make life easier in Gaza as long as Gilad is being held?
but the authorities in Gaza, supported by the majority of Gaza's population opted otherwise, and now they eat the cake they chose to bake. Gaza, in 2005 and even earlier, could be the beneficiary of so much financial, economic and good will support from countries the world over, including the Jewish state of Israel. Gaza could have developed its tourism and agricultural potential, handed over to its people on a silver platter by Jews in Israel and out of it. It could have developed itself into a center of commerce and industry through the use of its port and airport. It is time the UN demanded that the people who are responsible for the crime of Gaza are brought to trial: The leadership of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority before them. It is also time the UN demanded of the Arab state of Egypt to shoulder its responsibilities with regard to Gaza. After all, Egypt, that initiated the Six-Day War from Gaza should also be part of Gaza's solution, don't you think...??
posts again. the arabs just like the ira miggy never give up the impossible ! look up ottoman empire for eductional purposes !
Not one word about the corruption of Hamas and their blind, militant charter of death and destruction aimed squarely at Israel but backfiring consistently against their own people! Amazing how these disingenuous UN dunces can have so many years of experience in Gaza and not see and admit what Yousef can in just one day! The UN in coddling and excusing Palestinian terror only contributes to the perpetuation of their mostly self-inflicted misery.
It's perfectly unclear what Israel wants to achieve in Gaza but the arrogance with which it is isolating 1,5 million poeple, seemingly just for the sake of it is heartbreaking. Just as it is heartbreaking to read some of the other respondents agreeing with these inhuman policies. You want to see a captured soldier released, well so do I but come on, ruining the hopes and dreams of 1,5 million people for a normal life. Anybody who thinks that is an appropiate reaction should hide his dumb face under the bed and be ashamed of himself !
Whatever israel is doing/nourishing Gaza is on the humanitarian grounds. Gaza is NOT an occupied territory & in a state of war against israel . Blaming israel of what is happen in Gaza is the most ridicules injustice in the history of warfare ! Time the world drop the two-face policies. After all, isn't that what is called apartheid and anti-semitism; two-face policies ?! Time the world to re-search itself & re-discover its under the carpet face ! A lesson the Israeli Left are also well advised to learn.
It is so easy. Start to behave as human being and you'll be treated as a human being. Stop all war talk against Israel. Accept jewish right for the homeland Israel and Jerusalem. Stop talking about the return of milions of Pals to land of Israel and absorb those in Palestain. Be a good neighbour and the life will be different.
What arrogance! Surely this official knows that Egypt also has a border with Gaza so why has that Arab nation blocked it's border as well? The Gazan people are being held captive by a cynical and evil government whose sole interest is to perpetuate the war against Israel. Since we left Gaza almost 5 years ago, how are we still the occupying power? It's about time that the "friends" of Gaza realize that things would change very rapidly if Hamas would change it's policies of guns over food. What happened to the amazing hot-houses left after Israel's withdrawal? Why was everything destroyed? I feel sorry for the Gazan people, trapped in an intolerable situation but they certainly know the real reasons for their situation. Our first concern must be the release of Gilad and then Mr.Holmes may see a difference in our policies.
So it is more responsible than Hamas for what happens there. Stopping exports, shooting Gaza fisherman who venture off the near shore, holding up delivery of essential supplies. It's Israel who is repsonsible. And as regards creating a gangster economy that fits right in with Israel's plan of making it as miserable and ungovernable as possible.
How can israel be an occupying power when it left Gaza. From what perspective has Israel's policies failed when she has thwarted Hamas's announced aim to overthrow Israel? The money from Iran is channeled by Hamas in to bolstering Hamas's position and balistic capabilities not the civilian economy. Why no mention of the failed Hamas policies?
I'm sure Arabs of Egypt love Gazans, no?
"UN official: Israel 'nourishing despair' in Gaza" Ed. He is the President who is supposed to do nothing to half of his people ?! Time to draw the other half of this curtain of this comedy that is called the palestinians state. There is more in it than what the eye can see !
((a look alike crying "Mama" ) and good Holmes says "link between fate of Shalit and Gazans is not reasonable"
as rulers of gaza, hamas decides the fate of the civilian population. if hamas wanted to improve the populations economic welfare, hamas could do so easily. hamas would have to release gilad shalit and renounce terror in act and in word against the state of israel.
HOLMES DOES NOT HAVE ANY REAL POSITIVE ANSWERS FOR PEACE EXCEPT ALWAYS TO BLAME ISRAEL. HOLMES ATTITUDE IS THAT ISRAEL IS TO BLAME FOR THIS AND FOR THAT AND FOR EVERY PROBLEM. A PARROT COULD DO HOLMES' JOB OF REPEATING AND REPEATING OLD MIS-TRUTHS. BUT A PARROT CAN LEARN A NEW PHRASE, BUT HOLMES WILL NOT LEARN ANYTHONG NEW, ONLY KNOWS TO CRITICISE ISRAEL, NO MATTER WHAT.
Yea its an occupation. Since they control the exit and entrance points under international law that is a occupation. Yes egypt controls on entrance point but our congress here in America makes sure Egypt tightly controls that point of entry by threatening to take away the aid they get from the America. Fishermen can't go beyond five miles to go fishing or they run into Israeli patrol boats. By the way collective punishment is againt international law to but then Israel has broken international law all its existence. When you got big brother in the guises of america covering your backside you fear nothing......right.
Israel is defending herself, period. In fact, she has been far too forgiving and lax in doing so, albeit for humanitarian reasons.
"Even though there are plenty of goods available in Gaza, and that people should be able to get them, the problem is of course that most people have no money." Maybe if Hamas would invest their vast wealth into building a Gazan economy instead of formulating a genocide against Jews and Israel. . . ? "Israel has certain responsibilities as to the siege in Gaza. Israel, as we see it, continues to be the occupying power." And Hamas bears no responsibility despite creating the situation which requires the blockade. By the way, the number of Israeli troops and civilians currently in Gaza is zero. That's some occupation!
Another example "It depends on how you look at it. People are not starving in Gaza"... Then he discusses the smuggler economy that ha developed and boomed and which he notes, incidentally helps Hamas financially then wait, if my math and French is correct, percent means out of the total represented by one hundred equal parts, and if he is correct in his assertion, the abovementioned discussion applies to 20% of the population, while, "...Eighty percent of the people in Gaza are essentially dependent on outside food aid, either from UNWRA or the World Food Program. Not because there isn't food in the shops - there is - but they can't afford it" well then what does that mean if his first statement,(noted in opening) is correct 80percent on handouts are "not starving" and have "not unreasonable" (synonym reasonable) medical care, and the 20 percent are even better off.
... Politican Instead of elaborating on the topic of conversation for example, "The basic medical position [in Gaza] is not unreasonable, but there is a wider point which is not just about Gaza" he changes the subject, some detail would have been great, especially when using the phrase, not unreasonable, hmm that posing an opposite on the Adjective? For example, a listed synonym for unreasonable was, "Not reasonable", so if synonymous, that could read, not not reasonable meaning, (drum roll please) REASONABLE but it also doesn't stop there ...tbc
Why is it always Israel's fault for everything? I am sure if you looked hard enough you would fine people blaming Israel for the resent spats of earthquakes. It is about time time that the Palestinians get their fair share of the blame, which in reality is most of it and at best have of it. If Gandhi became the leader of Hamas tomorrow, the border would flow with aid and investment. If Gandhi became the leader of Israel tomorrow, things would not be that different.