Unemployed Palestinians march in Gaza

Palestine Chronicle ^ | 21 June 2002 | Hatem Anwar

[Ranger]

Hundreds of unemployed Palestinians marched in Gaza in protest of the Israeli blockade and lack of benefit from the Palestinian Authority. Protesters held empty dishes and pieces of bread, demanding justice, while holding signs that read "victims of occupation and negligence."

Yesterday’s march was named "March of Hunger". About 1,500 Gazans, representing tens of thousands of unemployed Palestinians in Gaza took to the streets seeking to draw attention to their suffering.

Israel had sealed the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, destroyed Palestinian economic infrastructure and it prevents Palestinians from seeking employment in Arab countries or inside Israel. Such action resulted in the highest level of unemployment Palestinians ever experienced.

Abdel-Qader al-Masri, 53, said his wife and five children left home last year to live with their grandmother after he proved unable to make a living for the family. ''I felt embarrassed to face my children. What shall I do if they ask for money? 'They left me because they were hungry and I could do nothing to satisfy them."

Fayez al-Amayrah, a father of a large family was quoted by Reuters saying "Israel has created the problem. It wanted to bring us to our knees by making us starve under closures and sieges. But the Palestinian Authority also failed to compensate us. We have shared blood, therefore, we should share bread.''

Another worker asked: ''We are not here to beg. We hear about millions of dollars that come as donations (from abroad). Where are they?''

Meanwhile, a PA official at the Labor Ministry Sa'eed al-Mudallah said: ''I see they have a right to be angry. But we as people and as an Authority are living through the worst times of our history under Israeli occupation (since 1967).''

A World Bank report said that since September 2000 real incomes in the Palestinian territories had fallen by 30 percent to below their 1980s level and the percentage of the population at the poverty level ($2 a day) has doubled to about 50 percent.

Copyright 2002. This news item is distributed via Middle East News Online (MiddleEastWire.com). All rights reserved. May not be redistributed, published or used for broadcast without prior written authorisation from Middle East News Online.

[Lazamataz]

By: Hatem Anwar

No way.

You made up that name.

[freebilly]

Another worker asked: ''We are not here to beg. We hear about millions of dollars that come as donations (from abroad). Where are they?''

Millions donated? Make that billions! Of course Arafat has used all that money to build factories and schools for the besieged Palestinians.

[Ciexyz]

Good question, where's all that money from the Saudi telethon? Remember the Saudi princess who donated her Rolls?

[syriacus]

But the Palestinian Authority also failed to compensate us.

Looks like the Gaza Palestinians need a new leadership.

[MinuteGal]

Time for leaflet-bombing the brain-dead Palis so their anger is directed at those really responsible for their plight. Stir up the discontent.

I'm serious. I don't know why this hasn't and isn't being done on a continuing basis. We did it in Afghanistan.

Leni

[ChadGore]

Re: "We have shared blood, therefore, we should share bread.''

Stop spilling the blood of, inosent people.

HAMASide bombing must stop.

[Diogenesis]

The Palestinians murder OPC [Other People's Children]l

Meanwhile, in Paris, protected by France and the EU, Arafat's wife and Arafat's daughter live in luxury and comfort
as they send other children to die murdering other innocent children
and as they have stolen the billions of $$$$.

Suha [and "Subliminal man"]: "If we (Arafat and me, his wife) had a son
(we only have a daughter) there is no greater honor than to have him be
a suicide bomber."

[another cricket]

Fayez al-Amayrah, a father of a large family was quoted by Reuters saying "Israel has created the problem. It wanted to bring us to our knees by making us starve under closures and sieges.

And these closures and sieges started before the homicide bombings or after? Cause and effect al-Amayrah. Cause and effect.

a.cricket

[dennisw]

The mighty Ummah should help these noble unfortunates who are no longer allowed to work in Israel and are thus unemployed.

[dennisw]

Where's those famous Muslim "charities" when ya really need some?

[Sabertooth]

Pity the unemplyed...

All the upwardly mobile "palestinians" are blowing themselves up.

[Nowhere Man]

Well, if they would quit sending out homicide bombers, start acting like civilized people, go out and get some jobs, and quit whining, they would be better off today. In some ways, Yasser Arafat and Co. are a lot like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton is here, all they do is stir up the "woe is me crowd" so they can keep influence and control.

[freebilly]

LOL, sadly....

[germanicus]

I hate to say this but the best occupation for a Palistinian is to be a suicide bomber. You receive an automatic life insurance policy for your family. I wonder if the Saudis can afford to pay out if all three million(?) Palistinian males blow themselves up.