Politics

Gaza: how bad is it?

January 14, 2009
Gaza: the storm continues
Gaza: the storm continues

As can usually be expected whenever this subject crops up, we have a wide spectrum of views on the ongoing crisis in Gaza to offer you this week. For the prolific (and provocative) Edward Luttwak, talk of "collective punishment" and unacceptable civilian casualties in Gaza is hyperbole, evidence that the mainstream media's worldview is no different from most Muslim critics of Israel. Trevor Mostyn, on the other hand, lays the blame squarely at the feet of Israel which, he says, never gave Gaza a chance to develop after the army pulled out in 1994, and we can largely blame Israel for the combative policies of the Hamas leadership today.

Paul Raymond, meanwhile, shifts our focus elsewhere: to the temporarily quiet front line dividing Israeli settlers and Palestinian villagers in the West Bank. It is here, not Gaza, that the real fight for the future of Israel and Palestine will be fought, Raymond argues—and it is here that things will really get messy.

Plus, later this week, Prince Hassan of Jordan weighs into the argument. As always, we'd love to hear your views on any of these articles.