The Cuban Blockade has succeeded in insuring that Cubans cannot import any modern U.S. cars, but it has not stopped the Cuban people from reducing infant mortality and other health-related issues. The Cuban medical treatment, of what appears to have been an advanced stage of prostate cancer in Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, can only enhance the reputation of Cuban oncologists. Thus, while economic blockades may retard the importation of material goods, they rarely interrupt a society which is intent on investing in its people. From all outward appearances and from its insistence on ending the Israeli economic blockade of its ports and border crossings, Hamas is also seeking to advance the economic well-being of the Gazan people. Just as President Obama has stated that no country would tolerate its people being under constant rocket attack, the international community has recognized that an economic blockade is an act of war which seeks to starve the economic vitality of a country. Thus, just as Israel has a fundamental right to be free of rocket attacks on its people, Hamas has a fundamental right to be free of the economic blockade imposed on it by Israel and Egypt. If the Israelis lift the economic blockade of Gaza, and if Hamas fails to stop the firing of rockets into Israel, then no one would quibble with a heavy-handed quashing of any rocket fire into Israel from Gaza. But, for now, give Middle East peace a chance by lifting the economic blockade of Gaza!
↧