Living And Dying In Gaza

A quote by a respected Arab journalist, Tariq Alhomayed


What has happened in Gaza and the emergence of the Islamic principality of Hamas can only be described as earth-shattering. Its impact will be felt by everyone, not only Palestinian citizens. It will influence the [Palestinian] issue itself, the dream of a Palestinian state as well as Arab countries and nations. The impact of the emergence of the Islamic Principality upon our Arab world will not be like the emergence of the Taliban, rather it will be more dangerous as it will affect Arab security.

The Roadmap is dead! The Middle East has become a more dangerousa place. Abbas has set to making a new government with the hopes to retain western support.


RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas is set to form a new government on Saturday, sealing the divide of the Palestinians after the capture of the Gaza Strip by his Hamas rivals.

Abbas, bolstered by strong Western backing in the deadly standoff with the democratically elected movement, named a new moderate prime minister for his emergency cabinet on Friday but his rule is likely to be limited to the West Bank.

This situation will make any peace in the area more difficult--Hamas will get Iranian aid, if it already does not. And what of Syria? I am not convinced that Syria is in that deep with Hamas. It will be interesting to watch the scramblings that will go on in the next few days. Even the mild mannered Qadafi has an opinion.

RABAT - Libyan leader Muammar Gathafi said on Friday Palestinians should deal with their own problems, asking other Arab countries to stay out of a power struggle between Hamas and Fatah.

"The Palestinian issue has to be left to the Palestinians to deal with. Arabs have to stay away of the problem. What have Arabs done for the Palestinians? They have only exploited the issue for their own interests," Gathafi told Al Jazeera television.

And the song goes on!

CHUQ