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Gaza in Chaos, Sharon Replaced due to Stroke

The Isralei pullout from Gaza this past August and September has not ushered in any semblance of law and order for the Palestinians, just as we all knew it wouldn't.

Armed Palestinian militants used huge [stolen - ed] tractors to break through the border wall with Egypt on Wednesday, then shot and killed two Egyptian security troops and wounded 30 others in a riot at the Gaza crossing point, security officials said.

On Monday, around 200 Palestinian police stormed government buildings in Rafah. Last Thursday, police caused the border crossing to be closed after they stormed it - UN monitors fled in the chaos. What might the police storm next? Gangs have engaged the police and each other in street shootouts, and armed kidnappings have been on the rise.

Optimists Fools saw Gaza as a testing-ground for Palestinian statehood. It was also hoped that Gaza's economy would gain its feet, or at least get up on all fours from its long-prone situation. But investments are not likely with this atmosphere - neither political nor economic. Many Palestinians blame the violence on the upcoming elections, as factions jockey for position. Many also blame Israel’s prime minister Ariel Sharon - why not?

Speaking of Sharon:

Ariel Sharon suffered a massive, life-threatening stroke Wednesday and underwent lengthy surgery to drain blood from his brain after falling ill at his ranch. Powers were transferred to his deputy, Ehud Olmert.
Doctors placed Sharon on a respirator and were trying to save his life...

It is just a matter of time. Sharon is despised by most Arabs, of course, but his death will not help the drive for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. As Israelis reshuffle for the upcoming March 28 vote, there are no successors in his own party who look able to defeat the other top candidates, Benjamin Netanyahu (the conservative former prime minister who recently won the Likud primaries) and Amir Peretz (Chairman of both the Labour Party and the Histadrut trade union federation).

Just what they need in that part of the world - a little more chaos.