Israel Matzav

Al-Jazeera hits the Gaza sewers, digs

This al-Jazeera report blames Israel for the unworkable sewage system in Gaza:

Before the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip was imposed, several repair works were underway to improve sanitation in the area.

But the projects have now been on hold for more than three years under the siege.

The United Nations says the water system in Gaza is on the verge of collapse.

Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros, reporting from Gaza, explains how overworked and outdated pipelines are polluting the water and making Palestinians ill.

Let's go to the videotape. I will have much more after it ends.



In March 2007 - when there was no blockade on Gaza by the way (Hamas had not yet engineered its coup - about the only thing they have engineered in Gaza), a cesspool collapsed in Gaza. You may remember this picture:

But what you may not remember, and what al-Jazeera has conveniently forgotten, is this:

Defense Minister Amir Peretz instructed the Gaza Liasion Administration to offer any assistance necessary to the Palestinians.

Sources at the administration said that they had been in touch with their Palestinian counterparts and offered medical aid, as well as the raw materials needed to fix the wastewater wall that caved in.

The Palestinians expressed their appreciation, but said that, for now, they were able to deal with the flooding on their own. [Wouldn't want to admit that the Jews could actually help, would they? CiJ]

Sources at the Gaza Liasion Administration said their offer stood, and they would help if requested to do so.

Angry residents drove reporters out of the area and mobbed government officials who arrived at the scene.

...

The Water Authority's Kawash said Gaza's poor infrastructure was to blame for the accident.

Several major sewage treatment projects funded by foreign donors, including one in Umm Naser, were frozen after Hamas won elections last year.

"We had a project to treat sewage in north Gaza, it was worked on for two years," Kawash said. "We built a pressure pipe line and pumping station," he added. "But it was stopped after ... troubles began."

In other words, Hamas decided not to carry out any repairs on the sewage system in Gaza in 2006 because they had higher priorities - like making Kassam rockets. But don't expect al-Jazeera to tell you that.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:39 PM