THE CATASTROPHE

As Israel celebrate its 60^th anniversary as a Nation State, 80percent of the Palestinian people are depended on the UN for basic food supplies.

 

This has become the reality of the UN created conflict in the Middle East. And instead of an event to celebrate, the anniversary should mark a time of reflection over the catastrophic decision made by the West in relation to the Palestinian  people.

 

The state of Israel was given to the Jews by the UN, as a way of redeeming the outcome of the Second World War, when 6 million Jews were killed.  

 

The speaker of the Israeli Parliament, Dalia Itzik claimed: “The state of Israel is an unusual success story, a wonder by an historical standard…There are flaws and we still have things to do, but behind these flaws is a great country.”

 

‘Flaws’ is an understatement, and it is just a shame that the great country Itzik refers to, does not belong to them. Israel is, and always will be an occupational power. And although it is by grief we think about the massacre of the Second World War, nothing can ever justify 60 years of oppressing the Palestinian people.

 

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in a speech on Wednesday: “Our conflict has been long indeed… However, it is peace, not war we aspire to and crave.”

 

But how can you ever restore peace through oppression?

SCOTLAND…WAKEUP

The recent ‘fuel crisis’ feared in Scotland, after workers at Grangemouth refinery went on a 48 hour strike at the end of April, created an uprising of angry citizens complaining about the workers not taking the consequences of the strike into consideration.

 

The striking workers were trying to save the pension plans offered to themselves and future workers, and it was the first strike seen at the refinery in 73 years. This attitude reflect a selfishness among the Scottish people for not supporting the workers, particularly since the reality of the ‘fuel crisis’ seemed more like an exaggeration to gain sympathy and anger towards the workers.  

 

I myself was actually looking forward to this ‘fuel crisis’. I was looking forward to having fewer cars around and being forced to walk to University in the morning. Although, I don’t think too many people share my romantic view.

 

Still, to put things into perspective, the Scottish people’s reaction to the strikers has shocked me and it was with disbelief that I heard the various comments made. The Federation of Small Business in Scotland said to the Sunday Mail: “This is terrible news for Scottish small businesses. A reliable fuel supply is the least you can expect from a country as oil rich as Scotland.”

 

And that really is the case. The fuel crisIs never seemed that serious and the only think that potentially created a problem was the panic buying.

And, at least in Scotland people can panic buy.The BBC reported on Monday that the UN had to suspend its food supply to the Gaza strip for the second time in a month because of low fuel supply.

 

BBC wrote: “Chronic fuel shortage in the Gaza strip were hampered by a strike by Gaza’s fuel distributors and petrol station owners.”

 

This is a serious fuel crisis as more then 80percent of Gaza’s population relies on humanitarian assistance and a high proportion of them are children. This fuel crisis affects people that don’t even have access to food and I doubt it is caused by selfish panic buying.

 

I say it is time for the Scottish people to wake up and support their workers and be grateful for living in a country where people can gain positive bargaining results through strike action. Worst case scenario the public will get an extra day off work if the fuel supply does run out and I think the people on the Gaza strip would gladly change positions if that was the level of consequence.