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<a href="http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10096.shtml" eudora="autourl">
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10096.shtml<br><br>
</a>"Creative anarchy" in the Gaza Strip <br>
Dr. Akram Habeeb writing from the occupied Gaza Strip, <i>Live from
Palestine,</i> 1 January 2009 <br><br>
<img src="http://electronicintifada.net/artman2/uploads/2/090101-habeeb-gaza.jpg" width=483 height=322 alt="[]">
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Mourners carry the body of Ali Lahobi, who was killed in an Israeli
missile strike, during his funeral in the Rafah refugee camp, southern
Gaza Strip, 1 January 2009. (Hatem
Omar/<a href="http://www.maanimages.com/">MaanImages</a>) <br><br>
Unlike other people in the world, Gazans counted down the last seconds of
2008 anticipating the next Israeli air attack, shelling by tank, or the
launch of a missile from warships crouching just offshore. Many of our
children thought the flashing explosions were fireworks with which the
Israeli military wanted them to mark the advent of the New Year. But too
many children were shocked to learn some of their peers were either
injured or killed. It was then that they discovered that Israel wanted
them to have a macabre welcome for the year 2009.<br><br>
Last night, the last of 2008, was the most horrible and horrendous for
all Gazans. Almost every moment, a bomb fell on civilian homes, or other
targets that had already been bombed to rubble. At least 10 people were
killed and many other injured. Among the targets bombed by the Israeli
Offense Forces were the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education
and the Legislative Council.<br><br>
Bombing these institutions has nothing to do with isolating Hamas or
weakening the resistance. The Israeli intent seems to be to create what
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called "creative
anarchy." Indeed Israel has always wanted to keep Palestinians
living a life of disorder. They want chaos to prevail in the Gaza Strip.
They want to eliminate any legislative or judicial system and replace it
with the law of the jungle that existed before Hamas took power.<br><br>
Such a state of anarchy would be further perpetuated by keeping
Palestinians in Gaza ignorant and illiterate. It is to advance this
sinister policy that Israel is systematically destroying the education
system, targeting universities, schools, and above all the Ministry of
Education. As a colonial power, Israel has adopted this old colonial
strategy to dominate the Palestinians. It is precisely the same strategy
used by slaveholders and colonizers: keep the people you want to control
in ignorance so they cannot rebel.<br><br>
Israel's claims that Palestinians have been using their institutions as
military sites or for hiding and manufacturing weapons are preposterous
and ridiculous. These allegations are just like the fake claims about
Iraqi weapons former US Secretary of State Colin Powell used to justify
the invasion of Iraq.<br><br>
Laying waste to the Gaza Strip is another way for the colonizers to
"prove" that Palestinians are just disorderly, monstrous,
barbarous terrorists who do not deserve a state of their own. Instead
they should be in the fetters of occupation, they should always be
oppressed and repressed so they cannot disturb those living in the Garden
of Eden. What should Palestinians do in response to such oppression?
Should they remain imprisoned in Gaza, the world's largest concentration
camp? Should they acquiesce to the Israeli siege and pray to God,
"imprison me to make me free"?<br><br>
What is happening in Gaza today is really catastrophic. The systematic
destruction of holy places, schools, universities and the killing of
innocent Palestinians are war crimes whose perpetrators must be brought
to justice. We Palestinians appreciate the efforts of everyone in the
free and civilized world to do what you can to intervene to stop this
aggression, and bring the war criminals to trial in an international
court.<br><br>
<i>Dr. Akram Habeeb is Assistant Professor of American Literature at the
Islamic University of Gaza.</i> <br><br>
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