Gaza, Palestine, Irish President Elect, Michael D. Higgins Report

Oct 29, 2011
Michael Manning

Michael D Higgins was an EU delegate to Gaza in 2005 - Liberties Press 2007

The US in 1997 won the Cold War and set the agenda for its security, prosperity and implementing its principles directly supporting Israel at Gaza's expense

In June 1997, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and US National Security Adviser, Paul Wolfowitz decided the United States had the resolve to shape a new century favourable to American principles and interests.

US President Bush and the Axis of Evil Speech

In April 2002, US President Bush stated: " ....The United States and Israel share a common enemy. We are both targets of 'an axis of evil'. Israel is targeted,.... because it is an island of liberal democratic principles in a sea of tyranny, intolerance and hatred....Iran, Iraq and Syria are all engaged in 'inspiring and financing a culture of political murder and suicide bombing against Israel, I declare war on international terrorism. Israel and the United States are fighting the same war."

'Should people say they hear the voice of God all the time and say they know what to do, then impose that on others politically, it is theological tyranny.' Senator David Norris, Irish human rights activist.

President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins

Michael D. Higgins was elected President of Ireland 29th October, 2011. Michael D. Higgins is a humanitarian and civil rights activist who visited Western Sahara, Turkey, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Chile, Peru, Gaza, The West Bank, Iraq and Somalia. He was the first recipient of the Sean MacBride Peace Prize awarded by the International Peace Instiitute in Helsinki in 1992.

Michael D. Higgins Report on the August 2005 visit to Gaza

Delegation leader, Andreas van Aaght, former Netherlands Prime Minister, three former Ministers and one former French Ambassador, one an Auschwitz survivor along with Michael D. Higgins who wrote the following report visited Gaza in August 2005. This was a European Union delegation who were granted permission to report on the daily living conditions of Palestinians. The delegates had no affiliation with Hamas or al Fatah or any Palestinian organisation.

1.5 million Palestinians live in Gaza, 750,000 are children under 15 years of age. 900.000 live in refugee camps, two thirds live below the poverty line with 40% unemployment in Gaza. The delegates travelled the routes ordinary Palestinians used, enduring the humiliating and degrading daily ordeals.
Gaza is best described as an open prison. Settlers used eight times as much water as the refugees per head, for swimming pools, thereby reducing the Gaza aquifer to below sea level so that it became salinated.
As the settlers left Gaza, 13,000 settlers entered the West Bank. The Israeli government acknowledges more than 250,000 settlers in the West Bank. 150,000 settlements are arranged in a horseshoe around East Jerusalem with Israel controlling 60% of the West Bank. Settler occupation has the function of humiliation. 500 settlers in the centre of Hebron are protected by 5,000 Israeli soldiers, barring Palestinians from entering Hebron city centre.
Settlers enter a house illegally, expropriating Palestinian property by knocking through the walls and changing the locks. A confrontation take place and the Israeli army takes the Palestinians into custody, for their own protection. 2,500 businesses have been closed as a result of such intimidation. In November 1989, Ariel Sharon advised: 'We all must run to the top of every hil. What we occupy we will keep, what we leave, they will get.' Settlements dominate the hills, with the Israeli Defence Force as protection. The delegation was pelted with glass bottles from settlers on the hilltops. Ordinary Palestinians are intimidated daily.
'The Wall' was central to the delegates' visit. 'The Wall' was judged illegal at the International Court of Justice in 2004. 'The Wall', 9 metres high will shortly encircle Bethlehem.
Since September 2000, 500,000 Palestinian olive trees have been destroyed. The olive tree has tremendous symbolic significance for Palestinians.
Greater Jerusalem has become a 70% Israeli majority.
The West Bank will be divided along a north-south axis by 'The Wall' and will become as tightly controlled as Gaza.

The Future

The blockade of Gaza by Israel means that this is the last independent report on living conditions in Gaza for ordinary Palestinians. Operation Cast Lead caused tremendous destruction and 1,300 civilian casualties in Gaza.

The Middle East deserves to be at peace. Palestinians have waited too long while many in Israel realise that security is best achieved when a viable Palestinian state is established. Mankind should be working to ensure peace through solidarity and support for International Law.