December 26,2008:
Hamas, the Islamic radical group that controls the Gaza, has enacted a
new law that allows for Islamic punishments for those who violate Sharia
(Islamic law). This includes cutting off the hands of thieves, whipping those
caught drinking alcohol, and crucifying traitors (the new law has a broad
interpretation of treason).
In Gaza,
Hamas has copied Hezbollah (with the help of Hezbollah advisors) and created a
dictatorship dedicated to the destruction of Israel. Many, perhaps even a
majority, of the 1.4 million Gaza Palestinians now oppose Hamas, but they keep
quiet. Hamas police have crushed all the family based gangs that long dominated
the Gaza economy. The gangs are still there, but mainly to make money, and not
play at politics. Hundreds of tunnels from Egypt bring in mostly commercial
goods (including live stock like calves and sheep to be slaughtered for the
Moslem religious holidays), but also weapons (especially longer range rockets
for the big attack on Israel). Hamas gets enough money and foreign food and
medical aid to keep the population alive. Fatah is allowed to pay 70,000 civil
servants in Gaza (for not working, and continuing to silently support Fatah).
Hamas gets enough cash from Iran and Gulf Arab fans each month to pay salaries
to 20,000 of its own supporters. Hamas also taxes the tunnel operations, and
anyone making money. Thus Hamas survives, but does not thrive. Hamas is
apparently planning to set up a separate Palestinian state, dedicated to
terrorism and radicalism. Hamas is on a Mission From God, so logic and reality
have little to do with their long range planning. There is some kind of plan,
apparently involving Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
Many in Gaza
do not care for Hamas attempts to set up a religious dictatorship, that
includes lifestyle police (as in Saudi Arabia and Iran). Gazans also note that,
while Israel allows enough supplies into prevent starvation or epidemics, Hamas
controls the smuggling tunnels, which carry a lot of non-essential consumer
goods, and Hamas taxes this trade heavily. So Hamas benefits from the Israeli
blockade, which keeps out cheaper products. Hamas also tolerates competing
terror groups in Gaza, because Hamas knows it can depend on these terrorists to
help out if the more moderate Gazans try to rebel. In short, Hamas, once
elected to power in Gaza, is never going to give up control. Gaza is, in
effect, a religious dictatorship like Iran. And like Iran, Gaza is now
dedicated to the destruction of Israel.
Hamas
continues its feud with rival Fatah, which controls the West Bank. This extends
to Hamas not allowing anyone from Gaza from going on the Hajj (the annual
pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia). Every Moslem nation has a deal with Saudi
Arabia regarding how many may make the Hajj, and Saudi Arabia issues visas for
the two million people allowed to visit. But Saudi Arabia is hostile to Hamas
(which is backed by Iran, which in turn believes it, and not Saudi Arabia,
should control the Moslem holy places in Mecca and Medina). So Saudi Arabia
asked Fatah for a list of those from Gaza going on the Hajj, and ignored a list
from Hamas. In response, Hamas refused to allow the Fatah approved pilgrims
from leaving. Hamas also denied doing this, despite the many Palestinian and
Egyptian witnesses to it.
Hamas seems
to have painted itself into a corner. Unable to loosen up its Islamic radical
view of the world, it feels compelled to get stricter, and more vicious, with
real, or perceived, enemies. In short, Hamas believes it is better to be feared
than loved. At least in Gaza. When word of its new laws reached the Western
media, Hamas denied it. But in Gaza, the Arabic media made it clear that the
new laws were very real, even if embarrassing when trying to explain it to the
infidels.