Jihad We Can Believe In
Finally, some Palestinians I can heartily support!
Jihad al-Shaer got tired of waiting for Israel to allow cement and steel into the Hamas-run Gaza Strip and took matters into his own hands, building a house of clay bricks.
More than three months since the end of an Israeli military offensive which killed hundreds of Palestinians and destroyed or damaged thousands of homes, the people of Gaza are still waiting for the reconstruction materials they need to rebuild.
A political deal with Israel to ease its blockade of Gaza remains out of reach, blocked by the split in Palestinian ranks between hardline Hamas Islamists and Fatah moderates.
But al-Shaer says his idea is catching on. Unlike cement and steel, clay is readily available. Gazans have visited his two-room house to check it out and several said they would copy the idea and start building their own clay shelters.
“There is no alternative. Cement is not coming in and our factions are not reconciling,” Shaer said, referring to the lack of progress in Palestinian unity talks, which were adjourned once again this week until mid-May, with no sign of an accord.
“People want to get married, others want to rebuild their houses. I advise people to begin building their shelters of clay and not to wait,” said Shaer, who fashioned his roof out of timber and nylon sheeting.
Good for you, uh… Jihad. One of the big problems with your people, may I say, is that they sit around on their collective asses waiting for their hopeless, criminal, corrupt, Jew-hating leadership to do things for them. How’s that worked out for you?
You want a house? Build it. You want a state? You’ve got the bricks and mortar to build that, too, if you set your minds to it.
Of course, a house is easier. See if you can perfect that, and then we’ll see about statehood.