A Daily Analysis
By Marc Schulman

September 19 , 2007 Gaza Declared Enemy Territory

Today the Israeli government officially declared Gaza an enemy territory.  The declaration, whose goal is to give Israel the legal basis for cutting of electricity and other vital services, is a murky statement.  The legal effect of the statement is unclear.  International law has not been tested in any case like this, and of course, international law is a murky area that often gets subsumed by international public opinion.  It is uncertain what this action will allow Israel to do.  Hamas has called the statement a declaration of war.  United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Israel today to reconsider its decision to declare the Gaza Strip an enemy entity, while Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on a visit to Israel, said that she supports the decision.
 
Hamas has offered to end all fire on Israel if Israel opens up the border crossings.  The economic closure of Gaza is working in that no one is starving, while those who had a little now have nothing.  It is unknown what the result of this will be.
 
Meanwhile, there were reports that the Palestinians are calling for a delay in the peace conference, claiming there is no purpose unless a complete agreement is reached in advance.  Israeli observers believe that this is just posturing on the part of the Palestinians.
 
With elections coming up in Lebanon, another car bombing occurred there again today.  Once again, a leading Christian politician was killed.  It is interesting how quiet the world is when Christians are killed.