Looming disaster in Gaza

By Steve Masters
and Diane Balser

Lebanon held the world’s headlines for much of the summer as Hezbollah and Israel waged sudden, furious battle. On the strength of the internationally brokered ceasefire, Israel has now withdrawn the last of its troops and the world is holding its breath, hoping the ceasefire is sustainable.

In the meantime, the Gaza Strip has continued to fester and collapse, seemingly forgotten.

The situation there has been deplorable since Israel’s unilateral withdrawal in August 2005. Its population suffers from hunger and growing desperation. Late spring saw further deterioration and an escalation in violence.

During a June 25 Hamas attack on an Israeli army base, two soldiers were killed and Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit was captured. Since that time, Gazans have been subjected to repeated Israeli attempts to combat terrorism, resulting in enormous loss of life and damage to the area’s infrastructure.

Newspaper readers know, for instance, that the war in Lebanon led to the deaths of more than 850 Lebanese and 150 Israelis, combatants and civilians. How many know that since June 25, more than 240 Palestinians, combatants and civilians, have been killed by the Israeli Defense Force?

Meanwhile, Qassam rockets have continued to be launched into southern Israel — far fewer in recent weeks, but still a source of fear and tension for those living within their range. Despite Israel’s iron-fisted response and reports of a possible prisoner exchange, Shalit remains in captivity.

Critically, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated. The New York Times reported earlier this month that “it is difficult to exaggerate the economic collapse of Gaza.” Jan Egeland, the United Nations undersecretary for humanitarian affairs, called Gaza “a ticking time bomb.”

Will pay dearly

The economy, health care and social services are near collapse, and there are growing signs of malnutrition. Sixty percent of the population is without electricity due to Israel’s bombing of Gaza’s only power station.

Border crossings have been open for only a few days over the past several months, leading to drastic shortages in basic human necessities: hospital supplies, essential medicines, and food.

Seventy-nine percent of households are now subsisting below the poverty line. The World Bank forecasts that 2006 may be the worst year in Palestinian economic history.

As American Jews for whom Israel’s well-being is of paramount importance, we find it impossible to believe that these circumstances will lead to Israel’s security or help bring about a lasting peace.

While it is understandable that we focused attention on Lebanon for many weeks, we now call on the U.S. government and international community to dedicate resources to address the looming disaster in Gaza, and work towards reviving negotiations for a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

First and foremost, the United States must work with Israel and the international community to open the border crossings on a regular basis, to ensure receipt of desperately needed humanitarian supplies and the establishment of a functioning economy.

Indeed, the Israeli daily Ha’aretz reported early this month that the U.S. Security Coordinator, Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, told a group of Israeli and Palestinian business leaders that “without the restoration of commercial activity, there will be no security in the area.”

The possible formation of a Palestinian unity government may allow for the resumption of direct aid to the Palestinian Authority, but seeing to it that more Palestinians get enough to eat and can meet their basic medical needs will not be enough.

Ha’aretz columnist Gidon Levy said of Israeli actions: “There is a horror taking place in Gaza, and while it might prevent a few terror attacks in the short run, it is bound to give birth to much more murderous terror.”

The only thing that can bring a final resolution of the conflict, creating economic stability for Palestinians and Israelis alike, as well as the longed-for end to the violence, is a negotiated, two-state solution.

Now that the ceasefire is in place and Israeli troops have left Lebanon, the international community, led by the United States, must turn its attention to Gaza.

If the crisis is not addressed soon, Palestinians and Israelis alike will pay dearly as the peace process is further delayed.

Steve Masters and Diane Balser are chair and co-chair, respectively, of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom’s national advocacy committee.