Introduction to International Politics
Foreign Event Analysis
| Locale | ![[]](http://www.kvasaheim.com/flags/flag15-ps.png "Flag of Palestinian Territory") | Palestinian Territory |
|---|---|---|
| Title |
Israel to Allow Fuel into Gaza Strip
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| Summary |
Following Israel’s shutting off fuel on Monday in response to rocket attacks by Hamas, the Israeli government has agreed to allow some fuel to be taken to the single power plant in the Gaza Strip. The UN relief agency has pleaded with the Israelis to allow more food into the Gaza Strip, but Israel has refused, stating only fuel will be allowed in. The spokesman for Unrwa called the blockade a “physical and mental punishment of the population". Israel claims Hamas is orchestrating the crisis for political gains.
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| Analysis |
Under the Liberal Perspective, armed conflict is never good as it disrupts trade, as seen in current situation in the Gaza Strip. Due to rocket attacks from Hamas, Israel is effectively starving the Palestinian population. This event also makes the interdependency relationship of the two nations clear. While the Gaza Strip is nearly entirely dependent on Israel for survival, Israel does not need any trade with Gaza for survival or even prosperity.
Also present in this situation is the effect institutions can have. The UN relief agency decrying Israel’s blockade as a cruel punishment as innocent people is putting Israel in a bad light on the international stage, and likely putting pressure on them to relent on the blockade. This is probably the reason why Israel has backed down on completely cutting the area off and allowing some fuel to go through.
This event makes it plain that Israel’s stranglehold over the Palestinian territories does not begin and end with military might. Clearly they have total economic dominance over them as well. Hopefully this will convince Hamas that attacks against Israel will only result in the suffering of their people, although stern consequences have done very little to convince them of this in the past, so this being the end of their assaults is doubtful.
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| Perspective |  | Liberal |
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| Out-of-Region URL | ||
| Submitted | November 14, 2008 at 05:12 am | |
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