Oh, Those Canadian Heroes!

"Activists", those who dedicate themselves to the support of the hard-pressed, the unfortunates of the world. They are admirable indeed. Going out of their way to lend their passion and their efforts to thankless work on behalf of the down-trodden, the oppressed. Their target - the world bully, Israel. Now that's a popular target, so support should be readily accessible. All $300,000 of the funding to launch a ship to effect a breach in Israel's blockade of poor shuddering Gaza.

Of course, knowing that the de facto government of Gaza is held by Canadian law to be a terror group, it is not their intention to support Hamas, but to bring comfort and solace and desperately-needed provisions to Palestinian Gazans. The huddled masses of Palestinians living in fear and desolation in their squalid refugee camps, abandoned by the world to their fate, slowly disintegrating with a howl of pained despair. Struggling to survive the lack of goods, of opportunities, of freedom.

Are these humanitarians on an enlightened teaching mission? To bring to the attention of the Gazan masses an ameliorating potential? That recognizing the right of existence of the State of Israel will most certainly, and with great alacrity, present them with all the freedom, opportunities and goods that their aggrieved hearts long for? That to inform their government that it is their collective wish to lay down arms and cease threatening Israel and its citizens will result in peace for all?

That is a worthy mission and we passive onlookers can only commend these brave Canadian souls. Oh, they have a mercenary mission do they, not quite the humanitarian one we envisioned? They plan to act as retail middlemen, to pick up Palestinian goods in Gaza to be sold abroad, they say? What Palestinian goods? Weren't we given to understand by this charitable group of Canadians and other activists before them that the problem for Gaza residents is that they are bereft of goods?

Oh, right. The goods that are being daily smuggled through those notorious tunnels, the route that weapons and the smuggling of terrorists also take, swifting through those tunnels. But these Canadians must then be referring to the civilian goods, the refrigerators, electronic equipment, luxury vehicles that have been smuggled into Gaza. They envision smuggling them back out, loading these goods onto their ship, and sailing off with them?

Where? Ah, to Canada? They'll be sold back here in Canada? And the proceeds of the sales to be divided between the fences - um - Canadians enablers and the Palestinians? How very thoughtful! But puzzling. Help us out here. The reason for the blockade, for the Turkish one that went awry, for the Libyan one just docked in Egypt, is to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinians; food, building materials, pharmaceuticals, baby diapers, right?

So what's with the loading of goods from Gaza for the purpose of selling it elsewhere? Oh, to see that the Palestinians get some spending money. Don't they know, these humanitarians, that the Palestinians get ample spending money courtesy of the UN, the EU, the US, and yes, even Israel? Here's another little secret they might like to have shared with them, in the interests of enlightenment. Israel regularly transfers hundreds of millions of dollars to the PA's bank accounts.

There is a Protocol on Economic Relations between Israel and the PLO whereby Israel transfers to the PA value added taxes collected on behalf of the PA. Israel, in fact, transfers even more than is collected in the interests of strengthening the economy of the Palestinian Authority. A strong econony, you see, results in a more independent, confident PA and citizenry, one more clearly prepared to embark on a mission of responsible government that should result in a peace arrangement between the two. Logically.

And here's more interesting information. Since Israel, due to international pressure, has lifted the blockade to make accessibility to a whole range of consumer goods a trifle less onerous Gazans, and particularly Hamas, have been thrown into a tizzy. Too many options, too much choice for such a small market to absorb. Especially since Hamas has been loathe to pay the salaries of those Palestinians dependent upon them, from the Hamas government's cash reserves.

Hey, don't believe it? The Al Ayyam newspaper, published in Gaza reports that clothing retailers lament an overabundance of goods in their market. Soft drink manufacturers and the local furniture industry are upset they now have to compete with lower-priced Israeli goods. They're insisting that Hamas do its duty and prevent Israeli products from entering their market, because they're hampering their sole-source production to meet local market requirements. The competition is so stiff they may be forced out of business.

For its part, Hamas claims the situation is "part of the plot by Israelis, Arabs and Europeans to restore the rule of (Fatah) Palestinian Authority in Gaza". See what a tangled political, ideological, social web you're infringing on? You will not be welcomed with open arms by Hamas. They're the government, stupid.

But of course, we're overlooking your agenda. The furtive one you don't much mention, the one that underlies the humanitarian mission on behalf of the poor Palestinians in Gaza. The one that targets Israel, the one meant to highlight yet again that all the world's ills start and stop with Jews. Interfering in everybody's business, bringing unrest to the world because of their determination to - well, you know - rule the world?

Damn them.