Who profits from keeping Gaza on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe?
Keeping Gaza on the verge of collapse keeps international humanitarian aid money flowing to exactly where it benefits Israeli interests.
Hever, Shir
http://972mag.com/who-profits-from-keeping-gaza-on-the-brink-of-humanitarian-catastrophe/13354
Date Written: 2018-03-02
Publisher: +972
Year Published: 2018
Resource Type: Article
Cx Number: CX22212
Economic researcher and journalist, Shir Hever shows that Israel benefits economically from its siege and oppression of Gaza.
Abstract:
-
Excerpt:
"The Gaza Strip is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis." Sound familiar? We've been hearing about the imminent collapse of Gaza's drinking water, sewage, health, and electricity systems since the outbreak of the Second Intifada 18 years ago.
In their book "The One State Condition," Ariella Azoulay and Adi Ophir attempt to answer the question, what interest does Israel have in keeping Gaza on the verge of collapse? Their answer remains valid even after fifteen years: keeping the Palestinians perpetually on the brink is proof of Israel's conclusive victory. The Palestinians cannot take their lives as given, for Israel can take their lives at any time. This is the basis of Israel's relation of clear relation of dominance over the Palestinians.
But while this answer is true, it is not sufficient. There is also an economic answer. As long as Gaza remains on the brink of collapse, international donors keep the flow of humanitarian aid money going. If the crisis were ended and the siege lifted, it is safe to assume that that the international donors would change the type of aid they provide and return to focus on the development of the Gazan economy (as they did from 1994—2000, until the outbreak of the Second Intifada). This type of aid would likely compete with certain branches of Israeli companies and therefore threaten the Israeli economy. Keeping Gaza on the verge of collapse keeps international humanitarian aid money flowing exactly to where it benefits Israeli interests.
Subject Headings
