Quote:
Originally Posted by pseudoreality
I agree with the second paragraph. Although I don't know if they are poor because they have too many kids, or they have too many kids because they are poor. Humans seem to do the opposite of other species on the plant in that regard. Its only when conditions are good that fertility goes down.
I disagree with your first paragraph though. The blockade of Gaza went way beyond keeping weapons out and didn't even do a good job there. Israel used the blockade to punish the people for electing Hamas. The idea was if they could starve and make suffer they would reject Hamas. Everything from basic building materials to snack food was blocked. Potato chips are not used to make rockets. Treating people like that is not the way for peace.
|
They are encouraged to have as many kids as possible. They're in a demographic war with Israel. Both sides are trying to pump up their population numbers as much as possible in the hopes that they can either swarm the other side demographically. At the very least both sides are trying to populate as many areas as possible, so that when it come times to draw the final borders they can point to major population centres.
Also, I don't know if you meant it metaphorically, but absolutely no one was starving in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip has one of the highest incidences of obesity in the world:
http://politicalarena.org/2012/11/25...t-among-women/
What you have to remember about the Gaza Strip blockade is that when Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip, it was both an experiment and an olive branch. The land became free of all Jews for the first time in recorded history. Immediately the citizens of Gaza elected Hamas, who's stated goal is the destruction of Israel. Hamas then began a massive rocket attack against Israel.
And no, Israel did not ban building materials. They allowed building materials in as long as they were for a specific project. Concrete and steel were most certainly being used in rocket production.
You are right that certain items were banned in order to put presure on Hamas. I'd also like to point out that Israel is not the only country that has a border with Gaza. Gaza also borders Egypt, and Israel has absolutely no control over that border. If Hamas was just looking for peace, why did Egypt put all storts of restrictions on Hamas too? The truth of the matter is that Hamas is very dangerous. Israel was not allowed to have a full out military conflict with Hamas, so the only way to get at them becomes economically and politically.
I think you might have a point if Hamas had been elected after the blockade. However, Hamas was elected before the blockade and after the withdrawal. Hamas is a strong arm organization that thrives on making their opposition look weak. In order to deal with Hamas, you have to strong arm them back. It's the only way.