Israel Matzav

Oom Shmoom

Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, is known to have dismissed the United Nations with a pejorative Oom Shmoom. Oom is the Hebrew abbreviation for United Nations (they love making abbreviations into words here, which drives those of us who are not native Hebrew speakers crazy), and shmoom is a slang way of saying it's worthless or nothing.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was in Israel and Gaza today, and he did nothing to dispel Ben Gurion's notion that the United Nations is worthless. Moon managed to blame Israel for all of Gaza's troubles by ignoring why Israel has implemented its policies in the first place.

United Nations Secetary-General Ban Ki-Moon visited Gaza Sunday and blamed Israel for its economic woes while ignoring terrorists’ smuggling of weapons for use against Israel and the documented abundance of food and opportunities for Arab exporters.

He also did not mention the resumption of Kassam attacks on southern Israel. The Israel Air Force two days ago bombed several tunnels that Hamas had built for smuggling weapons and for use by terrorists to kidnap IDF soldiers.

The day before, IDF Military Intelligence Director Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, briefed Ban on smuggling routes used by Iran via air, land and sea, and the Iranian aid for weapons to Hamas and Hizbullah.

However, Ban focused on Israel’s partial blockade of Gaza and called on Jerusalem to open all crossings for free passage of goods and merchandise. Israel has allowed daily humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza, even during the Operation Cast Lead war against Hamas terrorists last year. It has prohibited routine travel in and out of Gaza because of constant attempts by Hamas and allied terrorists to exploit the transfer of goods to smuggle in terrorists and weapons.

But here's what you really need to know as a talking point for those who blame Israel for Gaza's supposed dire economic straits.

The Gaza economy was growing and prospering in the 1980s and 90s but suffered with the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000, also known as the Oslo War, prior to which Jewish communities in the region had employed thousands of Arabs in building and agriculture. Constant terrorist attacks forced Jews to rely on foreign labor, leaving the Gaza economy with higher unemployment.

The employment situation worsened after the 2005 unilateral withdrawal by Israel and the expulsion by the Sharon government of 9,000 Jews in Gush Katif and northern Gaza who had employed Gazan Arabs in agriculture and construction.

That's right folks: If the Gazans hadn't insisted on turning themselves into splodeydopes, they would have plenty to eat and would be living quite comfortably. But then, that's not what their leadership wants, is it? And of course, you couldn't expect Ban Ki-Moon to notice any of that even after being briefed about weapons smuggling into Gaza.

What could go wrong?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:05 PM