It was bad enough that Israel has blockaded Gaza for years and now killed hundreds of innocent civilians. Their actions using white phosphorous bombs, the targeting of schools, hospitals and mosques, and the mounting evidence make one wonder whether Israeli policy is not just "to stop rocket fire."
Now it seems fresh water for Gaza's wounded and suffering people seems like a harmful terrorist weapon against the victims of southern Israel. Israel's latest actions denying potable water to Gaza have left the French utterly confused.
This is from an AFP release on DJ Newswire.
PARIS (AFP)--France is taking back a water treatment plant that would have helped civilians in Gaza after Israel prevented it from entering the Palestinian territory, the foreign ministry said Friday.
"Unfortunately, for reasons that we find hard to explain, the water treatment plant was not let in," said foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier.
Mr. Chevallier puts it best...he can't even find a reasonable explanation for not being able to install a vital necessity to the Palestinians in Gaza. Why would Israel deny this?
A team of 51 civilian security officials were on hand to help set up and operate the plant.
Israeli authorities had been blocking delivery of the treatment plant at a border crossing with Gaza since Sunday, the foreign ministry said.
"It is with great regret that we have decided to repatriate it," said Chevallier. "It seems to us it would have been useful for civilians."
Does anyone know if potable water is a key ingredient to a Qassam rocket?
I think Chevallier is right in thinking this would be useful for civilians. I agree--apparently the treatment center would have provided 2000 cubic feet of water a day to those cut off from water by the 22 day massacre.
Here's the kicker--the situation is really bad and desperate. Now is not the time for Israel to be using innocent life as negotiating pawns or whatever the motivation is.
Aid groups have said three-quarters of Gaza households were left without water in their homes after Israel launched its offensive.
The foreign ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador Wednesday to complain about access to humanitarian aid for the Palestinians in Gaza and over a European diplomatic convoy that was blocked for six hours at a crossing.
It's time that Obama and George Mitchell begin to reevaluate our role in influencing Israeli policy. I can't stand to see our tax dollars fund policies like this, aimed at doing the most damage to a civilian population as possible while trying to hide from too much international scrutiny. There is no need to kick a wounded and battered civilian population while it's trying to rebuild and survive.
Update:
Thanks to weasel for getting a live link to the story through Reuters.
http://uk.reuters.com/...