Roses for Valentine?

It is hard to describe the current situation regarding Gaza for the moment. All what was heard in the news were 2 kinds of talks:

• Palestinian-Palestinian talks under Egyptian hospices in order to find a consensus between the 2 main rival factions Fatah and Hamas. There were accusations, disputes etc. on what is legitimate, what is not, how far is the PLO the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian People or not, whether the PLO should be expended to contain many parties it is containing like Hamas, etc. The major objective is to form a unified representative of the Palestinians to be a part in peace talks with Israel. The dispute is also to find a unified representative to receive the aids for Gaza as the Western countries don't want to give it to Hamas and Fatah (in fact it should be the Palestinian Authorities, led by those) is not present in Gaza. At the end I lost track and I don't know what was the outcome of all that

• Palestinian-Israeli talks also under the same Egyptian hospices (particularly the Head of the Egyptian Intelligence Services, and I wonder why an officer like that is doing all this and not the ministry for foreign affairs for example?) to find a final agreement on ceasefire and opening the crossings. They disputed first on its time frame (Hamas was convinced to agree prolonging it form 1 to 1.5 years), opening all the crossings (Hamas was convinced to agree with a verbal Egyptian statement that the crossings are going to be partially opened, apart form the Rafah one) and other minor disputes. It looked all encouraging till the interim Israeli Prime Minister put another condition today, which is no opening of the crossings till the captured Israeli soldier Gilead Shalit is released. As far as I know that it agreed before unofficially that this is not a part of this agreement. Now it is, and the talks are running the danger of failing.

In the same time these major things are occurring:

• Everybody is so worried regarding the tunnels between Egyptian and Palestinian sides of Rafah and experts are being sent there with most sophisticated equipment to stop this smuggling. You should take into consideration that most food is coming over to Gaza through these tunnels as the crossings are still closed

• the crossings are, as already mentioned, are mainly closed. Only a part of the international aids excluding building materials and food are coming through. Egypt was also busy confiscating financial aids going to Gaza. They are also very dedicated to this closing of the crossings and are very nervous when anybody is lamenting or accusing them if treason fir doing so and playing the Israeli game of letting Gaza hunger.

• The Gazans are now are sitting on a pile of rubble of their destroyed homes, many of them (some 30,000 to 50,000 people) are now living in tents. All this during winter and while markets are virtually empty because of the effective tunnel and crossings control. Some of people who were wounded as the war ended died because of not sufficient medicinal aids (stuck at the crossings): Basically, Gazans with their destroyed land are now being neglected or disregarded by the world as news are concentrating on talks and elections

• Elections took place in Israel with the centre left party Kadima ahead in only one seat of the rightist Likud Party. The first one is allegedly a (pretty falcon like) dove of peace looking forward for a 2 state solution (under their conditions they are imposing now by arms) whereas the second is overtly denying the peace talks to the Palestinians and is looking for a 1 state solution (i.e. sovereign Israel and some partial autonomy for the occupied territories). The problem is that there is a third party, an ultra-rightist Yisrael Beiteinu party, that is probably going to define who forms this government. These want to force all Palestinian citizens of Israel to vow loyalty to Jewish State (i.e. recognize its Apartheid system and thus recognizing that they don't have much place in it being non Jews). It looks like the second and the third party are going to form the future government. In fact no matter who does it looks bad for the Palestinians in the occupied territories but the I think that this rightist coalition might be even a disaster

So, what are Hamas's choices in the talks with Israel? Take it or leave it. This means:

Take it: basically accept all Israeli conditions, accept that the crossings are going to be mostly partially closed (or opened as you see it), give the captured soldier back while thousands Palestinian prisoners are detained in Israel. I bet you that after accepting the condition with the Israeli soldier Israel shall find another condition to squeeze the Palestinians for more concessions. And after all that the new government shall find ways to end the cease fire in their way.

Leave it: Wait till the rightist Israeli government come, which is certainly won't be negotiating. In their eyes (not only in theirs) Gaza (don't forget, occupied territories) are a part of the Land of Israel. Crossings are totally closed, Gazans hungering and Israel keeps the right to itself to do another invasion, or better do continuous air strikes. What can Hams do then? Fire the rockets that can't even make a hole in the ground?

It does not look good at all for Palestine. When I then look at the destroyed Gaza, what is going to become of it? What did this war bring other than death and destruction? Probably nothing and the world is sleeping. The world was caring for only roses for Valentine Day and the Dutch government asked Israel to let Gaza export some roses for this important day. A whole truck full of red roses was allowed to pass the crossing to enable the European lovers to give a red rose a gift to their beloved ones, the rest of the roses crop is being fed to sheep and other animals as it is not allowed to export them. Meanwhile, Palestinians are allowed to watch their beloved ones hunger or even die.