Israeli News: A Daily Analysis

Major Events in Israel and the Middle East
A Daily Analysis
By Marc Schulman

Violence Get Worse in Gaza

Monday May 14, 2007

Today's news is primarily a continuation of yesterday's, with fighting in Gaza getting worse. Israeli television showed a piece today about the gun market in Gaza where anyone who wants can buy bullets, grenades, and guns. Palestinian Interior Minister Hani Kawasmeh, who was nominally in charge of security, has resigned. In his public statement when he resigned, Kawasmeh decried the fact that no one seemed to care that Gaza is falling apart. It is hard to say what is going to happen there, but Israel should stay out of Gaza if possible.

Prime Minister Olmert and the State Controller Lindenshtrauss are exchanging charges, both writing to Attorney General Mazuz, and asking if the other can be charged with insulting each other. One cannot make up these stories.

A serious election campaign is taking place in Turkey. There the courts have blocked the selection of an Islamist as the President. The current President has blocked the selection of members of the Islamist party to key ministerial and judicial positions. The wife of the Islamic Party nominee for President wears a Hijab (head cover). Wearing the Hijab is barred in government places. The founder of the Turkish Republic, and its first President, Mustafa Kemal AtatŸrk, made Turkey a secular state. New elections have been called, and millions have taken to the streets, either in support of the secular state or supporting the Islamist party.