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| Middle East |
| Palestinian Militants complain about poor Gaza accomodations |
| 2003-12-18 |
| EFL of Newday AP story. Be warned - it contains some touching moments. The normally barren Al-Zahra Hotel has been turned over the past few weeks into something of a Gaza City frat house. On a recent day, some of the new guests -- Palestinians expelled by Israel from the West Bank in an experimental approach toward suspected militants -- stretched out on lobby couches, chain-smoking, chatting, staring listlessly at a TV. Sometimes, local residents invite their 18 new neighbors to lunch. Some of the expellees show up at the odd protest or hold beach barbecues, but mostly they spend their days padding about the lobby -- a bunch of men with no jobs and way too much time on their hands. "We are not from here. We don’t know anybody here. It’s very hard to meet people," said Taha Doek, 39, who is from Hebron. Palestinians say expulsions without trial are illegal under international law, and worry the small numbers will soon turn into a flood. Israel says Al-Zahra’s guests are dangerous militants: It had to expel them because trying them would have compromised intelligence sources. "This is only the start," said Capt. Maurice Hirsch, a legal official with the Israeli army. The Israeli military gave the men about $230 each and dumped them in overcrowded and impoverished Gaza in several groups from mid-November to early December, barring them from returning to the West Bank -- separated from the strip by Israeli territory -- for up to two years. The Palestinian Authority picked them up and put them in this quiet and otherwise empty back-alley hotel -- high-class by Gaza standards with a clutch of new floral-print couches and tables topped with fake flowers. For many Palestinians, whose society is anchored in clan and family, being barred from their hometowns is a terrible punishment -- compounded in this case by the utter monotony. They wake up to a breakfast, which, like all their meals, comes courtesy of the Palestinian Authority. Some go for walks through the city. Others, confused by the new surroundings, stay inside all day. They speak with their families on the cell phones they immediately bought with the Israeli cash. A few pray and read the Quran. Lazily they chat with each other, although having spent weeks together in detention it’s not clear what’s left to say. "I am miserable," Doek said before inviting a reporter and photographer upstairs to see pictures of his family. The front-desk clerk sprung into action, demanding they remain in the lobby for "security reasons." See that’s the type of service that these guys are being subjected to. So much for that clerk’s Christmas tip. |
| Posted by:Super Hose |
| #4 I suppose Israel could breakout a backhoe and build them a 'Saddam Suite' in short order..... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2003-12-18 11:05:29 PM |
| #3 The front-desk clerk sprung into action, demanding they remain in the lobby for "security reasons." Sounds like they want no "work accidents" at the Chez Al-Zahra. Wait'll Mutual of Gaza City gets wind of this. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-12-18 9:34:02 PM |
| #2 Wish you guys drew the Belgian 'reassignment', don't ya? |
| Posted by: Raj 2003-12-18 7:38:14 PM |
| #1 Oh stop, you're breaking my f*cking heart. |
| Posted by: BH 2003-12-18 6:12:51 PM |