An article built on sand. Let's get the facts straight: saying there was a embargo on aid is flat out wrong: -- Donations to the Palestinian Authority almost tripled last year as a result of the international boycott of the Hamas government, according to a report published this month by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Aid in 2006 totaled $900 million, up from $349 million a year earlier.

Rob Steenvs, Boulder, US/CO

Rod Polisher is a bit hazy on his history.

Ashkenazi Jews are NOT on the whole European converts to Judaism, considering that to do so from the 13th century onwards proselytising was forbidden by rabbis, as it was a danger to the community. By extension, very very few Christians would even consider converting to Judaism, as it meant almost certain death. Ashkenazi Jews instead are those who settled in North Western Europe, but were moved eastwards into Germany, Poland and Russia after the populations were expelled from various countries.

Yes, in the course of 2,000 years there has been some mixing with the European population, but due to phyiscal ghettoisation from the 15th century onwards, the Jewish community has more or less remained distinct and are semitic.

LC, London,

I disagree entirely with your views

Gaza has chosen Hamas.
The West Bank has chosen Fatah.

Hamas refuse to negociate, fine, cut them off in their own little bubble, and in two weeks when everyone is starving, then ask Hamas to surrender.

The West Bank on the other hand, rehold elections, broker a peace deal with Isreal, and hope it lasts.

Palestinians will then have a solid example, accept Israel, stop shooting rockets at it, and you can have a flourishing state.
Or, declare war on Israel, and die.

Is that in some way unfair, to the poor buggers in Gaza probably, but its the best solution so far.

The worst thing that can be done is allow Hamas to escape the noose its put its own neck in.

Dominic, Manchester, UK

Jonathan Myers from London is talking rot about the area being called Palestine for "centuries" before the foundation of Israel:

Mandatory Palestine was created as a result of the British conquest of the Ottoman Empire in 1917. Prior to that, the Ottomans never called the area Palestine. It was simply a part of the admistrative district of Lower Syria. Now the Ottomans were there for 500 years prior to 1917, so where did you get your facts from Jonathan?

The first mention of the word "Palestine" followed the expulsion of a large number (but not all) Jews from the roman province of Judea following the Jewish Revolt and the destruction of the temple in 70CE. The word was "Palestina" and was a rename of the province of Judea (yes, that's Judea as in "Judah" and "Jews").

Going back further still in time, Judea originally consisted of the two Jewish kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Ian, London, UK

Rod Polisher, Scunthorpe, UK: " The term "anti-semite" is just a slur used by feeble minded people who have no facts (based on actual real evidence) to back up their arguments."

The term "Palestinian" is just a slur used by feeble minded people who have no facts (based on actual real evidence) to back up their arguments.

Oh, what Fun!

Dan, Hampton, UK

I wish the palestinians would follow the example of people in Bombays' slums.Even theough they live in extreme deprivation they have an economy of 10 billion USD thougth informal work and small scale industries.they dont get a single dollar in Aid handouts from Europe and the US

gabe, dublin,

I have been looking through the pages of the more prominent British papers to fine mention of the Christian church and school overrun and ransacked yesterday by Hamas forces. One Hamas spokesman promises this won't happen again. Another spokesman warns the 2000 Christians remaining in Gaza that they are to obide by strict Muslim law and convention concerning dress and food in the main. Otherwise they are to suffer Muslim wrath.

Odd that not a single reference to this "writing on the wall" received mention. I ask myself why.

Seems to me Ms. Maddox just hasn't a clue.

Ernauld France, Tours, France

erez is right. Remember, there ARE no 'palestinians' - they are Egyptians or Jordanians, occupying Israeli territory. The Israelis are too soft.

Nicko, Cape Town , ORSA

Maybe there are no white South Africans, just Dutch European immigrants occupying Zulu and Xhosa territory.

Remember just one simple fact, not ONE Palestinian ever emigrated to Israel / Palestine. How many Israelis can say the same? Most Israelis are Ashkenazi Jews, that is, descendants of Europeans who converted to Judaism. That also means they are not Semitic either. However, ALL Arabs (Christians and Muslims) are Semitic peoples. Makes the term Anti-Semitic look stupid and inaccurate. I have yet to meet anyone who has declared themselves as Anti-Semitic. Met quite a few people though who are Anti-Zionist (Torah true Jews included). The term "anti-semite" is just a slur used by feeble minded people who have no facts (based on actual real evidence) to back up their arguments.

Rod Polisher, Scunthorpe, UK

I have to say it always strikes me what Israel has created out of the desert.Compare it to the Palestinians who also live in the desert ,yet haven't progressed for a thousand years.
Recent atrocities by the Palestinians against each other only endorse Israels reluctance to allow them greater autonomy.

J Currie, London,

The US and the EU, in supporting Fatah, have just effectively told the Palestinians that democracy doesn't count, which I would have thought was a very dangerous message.

The US may well roll over and ignore its own road map when Israel asks them to, but there is no reason for the EU to do the same; doing so suggests they're little more than spineless.

Fatah was soundly beaten in the last election in the Palestinian territories, and the reason for this, I understand, is that Hamas were seen as 'honest' while Fatah were seen as 'corrupt'. It would be in everyone's interests for outsiders to support the results of elections which they supervised and vouched for. Their failure to do so is contemptible.

John Reid, Wellington, New Zealand

On Iran’s nuclear ambitions Israel has the world on its side (even Russia, on a good day), but on Palestinian questions it is losing its last grip on public support...

I beg to differ with this analysis. Iran is a signatory to the NPT and has allowed inspections by the IAEA. Israel on the other hand has consistently lied to its allies and the IAEA inspectors (when the work was going on in Dimona) and even denied the existence of nuclear weapons. It is the only country in the region that has nuclear weapons, and as a result, behaves with impunity. It was also Israel that supplied a lot of the "intelligence" to the US about Iraq's WMDs (I wonder whatever happen to those by the way?). Given a choice of believing Israel or trusting Iran, I would rather trust the Iranians. Israel's record of occupying the Golan, Sheba, illegal West Bank settlements, attacking the USS Liberty, blowing up the King David Hotel speaks for itself. Israel's treachery and military ambitions show no bounds.

Rod Polisher, Scunthorpe, UK

It's like NI on fast forward, I do support Israel but only up to a point. Israel is the stronger country and it's up to Israel to take the lead. Threaterning to take us all with them if they go isn't a srong lead, it's just terrorism in another guise.

Susan, Barry, S Wales

Looking through these blogs (and I have waited for these responses ever since Erez burst forth this morning) , one is driven to the question: Are Erez and Nicko members of Hamas determined to show Israel in its worst possible light? They are doing an excellent jobb

Peter, Geneva, Switzerland

erez,

I should point out that Israel has received more US aid over the last 40 years than the whole of the rest of the world put together. When Israel stops its occupation (which continues even without settlements) maybe Gaza will have a chance to do something.

akram, London,

israel has to fend for itself, do the right thing to protect its own people and not cater to europeans who sit on the sidelines sermonizing what is good for palestinians. keep pushing for boycotts against israel and wonder why any advice coming from snarky brits will be rightfully ignored.

jerry, los angeles, california, usa

I am very much afraid that the "Palestine problem" will never be solved.

I have had the privilege of knowing an old soldier who was in Palestine during and after the war. At that time the jews were shooting at our forces, so he has no reason to love them! What he told me however was:

"Jews would find a bit of arid and useless land, and buy it from the Arab owners. By investing lots of investment of time and money they would gradually turn it into productive farmland - then the Arab would come back and say 'this is good land, worth much more than you paid me - you have robbed me' "

How can they ever make peace with that attitude?

MIke Bibby, St Albans, England -not EU

And then to think that this could be one of the most prosperous and good-to-live-in areas of the world. In the words of the Dutch 16/17th-century poet Coornhert: "Oh! were all men wise, and wished each other well! Then the world would be a paradise, while now it is mostly hell".

Hein Maassen, Leidschendam, The Netherlands

Has Robert from London wondered where the weapons are coming from? They appear deadly, modern, new; there seems to be plenty of ammunition.
Find out first who is providing them.
Regina, Coventry

regina akel, Coventry, West Midlands

It does not matter which way you look at the situation, what is undeniable is the fact that Hamas is the democratically elected government of the Palastinian people. By funding Fatah/Abbas (corrupt & weak in that order) long term what on earth does the US/Weast/Israel think it will gain. Surely to obtain lasting peace in the region it is obvious to all that Hamas must be recognised by all parties and brought to the negotiating table? To wait for Hamas to become corrupted and manageble, as is the case with Fatah, will not work as it conveniently ignores the will of the Palestinian people.

Kevin Sullivan, London, UK

some of the comments today really are shocking and wholly misinformed. Nicko desparately needs a history lesson - for centuries on end the land now known as Isreal was Palestine. If anything israelis are in fact palestinians. It was after all Israel that was 'created' as a result of the West feeling so bad about its own disgraceful treatment of the Jews.

And Erez - any thoughts about the hundreds of illegal settlements that remain in existence? Simple fact is there will be no peace until Isreal gives up those settlements and gives the Palestinans what they are entitled to have.

Johnathon Myers, london,

On nuclear ambitions is the world on Israel's side? what nonsense. the 57 muslims countries worldwide certainly are not! neither is most of the third world, who see total hypocrisy, Israel and america having nuclear ambitions of their own but denying them to others.

Iran is not even saying it wants nuclear weapons the argument is whether they have a right to generate electricity from it. Legally they have a full rights to do what they are saying. The author is being totally hypocritical by suggesting otherwise.

akram, London,

Bronwen Maddox is generally thoughtful and perceptive.
However when she worries about Gaza being sealed off she forgets that Israel tries to prevent arms and other harmful elements getting in. For the Israelis this is a serious security matter. The Europeans who comment loftily from affar appear to ignore this consideration.
Robert, London, UK
*************************
Bizarre comment from someone in london? The iranians seem to have had no problems smuggling weapons into Gaza either. Israel STILL trying to waterproof the proverbial seive after 30 years - you'd think they would come up with a better approach after so many failures of the same antiquated policy.

Phil, london, uk

erez is right. Remember, there ARE no 'palestinians' - they are Egyptians or Jordanians, occupying Israeli territory. The Israelis are too soft.

This is an Arab problem, and they have the money. Let them solve it, by pouring billions into these 'useful idiots'. And the Arabs, having deliberately created the problem, must absorb these people

Nicko, Cape Town , ORSA

Bronwen Maddox is generally thoughtful and perceptive.
However when she worries about Gaza being sealed off she forgets that Israel tries to prevent arms and other harmful elements getting in. For the Israelis this is a serious security matter. The Europeans who comment loftily from affar appear to ignore this consideration.

Robert, London, UK

If the aid is given, where does it go - to the very secular Fatah people that West upholds and who are corrupt. Corrupt western democracies supporting 'good' democrats in the Middle East? What a joke. No wonder youth are radicalised - the same mistakes repeated generation after generation by venal secularists like Blair

simonS, Bolton,

More jyzia for the US, EU and Isreael to pay. What a fool's game this is and has been for decades.

As usual, there is little sympathy and no funds for the Palestinians Arab brothers and sisters. The Pals are simply useful tools. If they weren't so dysfunctional, they could have figured this out long ago and made the necessary concessions in order to join the rest of the civilized world and prosper.

Instead the Palestinians play the game with no shame for being one of the world's largest welfare recipients. Disgraceful. And I do notice that the rest of the world is rapidly loosing interest. There is such a thing as over-playing one's hand, however the Palestinians haven't figured this out....

BHG, USA,

blame Israel... As always... The fact we left Gaza, destroyed 22 of our own settelments, means nothing I guess... Until we lay on the ground and let the hamas murderers come and cut out throats it would always be our fault...

We got out of gaza... What did they do? Started launching missiles at us... This is how you try to convince us to leave the west bank as well?

When did the people of gaza ever do something positive for themselves? They complain they feel crowded? Why are they having 10 children in each family? They complain they are poor? What about trying to produce something of value? You already get more aid then 10 african countries combined....

So go on blame Israel... Sure we are not perfect, but in recent years we did so much for peace (pulled out of sinai, jordan, lebanon, gaza) and all we are getting in return are missiles and promisses to be wiped of the map... Well guess what? the day we get wiped of the map there wouldn't be much of a map left...

erez, jerusalem,