2-17-2015 Desperation Drives Gazans Over a Fence and Into Israeli Prisons - JODI RUDOREN and MAJD AL WAHEIDIFEB New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/18/world/middleeast/desperation-drives-gazans-over-a-fence-and-into-israeli-prisons.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

...Some said they fantasized about finding work in Israel. Even the all-but-inevitable time behind bars is alluring — safe, three meals a day, and the monthly stipend the Palestinian Authority pays all its prisoners.

Compared with Gaza, "the prison in Israel is like a five-star hotel," said Youssef Abbas, 21, who did stints there after crossing the border in 2010 and 2008. He said he had headed toward the fence twice more in September but had been turned back, once by Gaza security forces and once by a call from his fiancée.

"I was thinking of two choices: death or prison," Mr. Abbas said. "Because there were so many problems in my life, I was so tired, I had this idea."

 Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10-30-2013 Israel's Weapons Industry, Arms Trade and Military and Surveillance Co-operation with the European Union – Shir Hever (economic researcher at Alternate Information Center) ePalestine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeDFEoKEi8Y The European Union is Israel's most important trading partner. An increasingly important part of that trade is in goods and services of the defense and homeland security industries. These have become a pillar of Israel's economy, and also play a big role in a number of EU countries. Israel touts its "battle-proven" technologies such as electronics and drones used in surveillance and assassinations, as well as the expertise and equipment it uses to repress popular resistance activities in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. In Europe, France and the United Kingdom are among the world's premier arms exporters -- including to Israel. Germany and Italy are also significant in this respect, with the former providing submarines (capable of being refitted for nuclear weapons...
Read more

8-15-2018 Bennett rejects potential truce deal with Hamas as ‘reward for terrorists’ Michael Bachner Times of Israel

https://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-rejects-potential-truce-deal-with-hamas-as-reward-for-terrorists/ Jewish Home leader says his party will oppose any long-term ceasefire accord, warns it harms Israel's deterrence; defense minister dismisses 'empty slogans'… A key coalition ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday harshly criticized any deal for a long-term ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip, adding that ministers in his party will oppose it. "Liberman's gestures to efense officials took part in the meeting, Liberman's office said… This week, Israeli authorities noted a significant drop in incendiary kite and balloon attacks f Palestinian enclave.   Senior Israel officials maintain the country has not agreed to the ceasefire that Hamas announced late Thursday and said went into effect at midnight. Hamas, a terror group that seeks to destroy Israel, claims the deal was mediated by Egypt and other ...
Read more

Black lawmakers vow to stand by Israel despite sitting out Netanyahu speech

http://www.jta.org/2015/03/10/news-opinion/politics/black-lawmakers-vow-to-stand-by-israel-despite-sitting-out-netanyahu "Leading black lawmakers have taken pains to put the blame for the speech incident on Boehner and convey their continued support for Israel. At the news conference with Lewis, Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), the caucus chairman, described a phone call he had with Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador to Washington who organized the invitation with Boehner, and who agreed to Boehner's request to keep it secret from the president and congressional Democrats. "During that telephone conversation I pleaded with the ambassador to seek a postponement of the joint session, but he dismissed that idea," Butterfield said. "Notwithstanding, I pledged my continued personal support and explained that Israel has many friends in the Congressional Black Caucus, and do not think that Speaker Boehner's conduct will interfere with our relationship." Posted ...
Read more