peoples

The notion of a single Palestine is increasingly inappropriate as the West Bank and Gaza Strip continue to diverge economically, politically and socially. The increasing difference between the two Palestinian states has forced a readjustment of the “two-state” paradigm in consideration of the, now, three distinct entities. The mutually exclusive policies of Israel toward each Palestinian entity (moderate restrictions in the West Bank and blockade/isolation of Gaza) beg the question: what strategy produces a more peaceful, moderate Palestine, or specifically Gaza? Is Israel justified in blockading Gaza to defang the pugnacious Hamas, or do policies of attrition create the underlying economic destitution necessary to justify the “long-war” of Islamic extremists?

The Washington Post examines Sami and Tayseer Barakat, living in Gaza and the West Bank respectively, in expose’ of the differing realities in both Palestinian territories.

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MUST SEE: “Two Peoples, Divided”: A series of reports examining how Israelis and Palestinians increasingly live separate lives.

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China will displace nearly 500k people to accommodate a reservoir and canal to carry water from the Yangtze in the South to the arid plains of the North.

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Today the U.S. House of Representatives will consider H.R. 2194, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act. The bill will bolster existing laws regarding Iran sanctions by giving the President the power to impose sanctions against companies that supply Iran with – or support its domestic production of – gasoline and other refined petroleum products. Such companies would be denied access to the U.S. market. The sanctions are mandatory but could be waived. Among the largest multinational companies providing these imports to Iran are Vitol (Switzerland), Reliance (India), Total (France), and Shell (Netherlands). A summary of the bill is available here.

Also on the floor, H. Res. 894, honoring the 50th anniversary of the recording of the album “Kind of Blue” and reaffirming jazz as a national treasure. Your tax dollars at work.