En må til en tyrkisk journalist for å finne common sense-vurderinger av Hamas og PA. Kerim Balci i Zaman Daily sier de palestinske unnskyldningene til Abbas & Co ikke holder lenger. De er brukt opp. Abbas var nylig i Tyrkia og advarte mot «en sosial eksplosjon». I Tyrkia kjøper man ikke dette ukritisk. Men et gjør man i Oslo.

The situation in Palestine gives me deep heartache and makes me feel tremendous grief. The terrible situation that my neighbors, teachers, confidants and landlords are experiencing, in these lands where I lived for seven years, makes me cry. However, I cannot agree with the «excuse» that all the problems stem from Israeli occupation even if Abbas claims so. At least, Palestine is a state in the process of establishment since 1987. When we asked Palestinian ministers five years ago whether they were ready for freedom, they replied «yes.» Isn’t economic independence one of the most important pillars of freedom? Doesn’t Palestine have a Diaspora community of more than five million people? Aren’t the Palestinians the best educated generation in the Arab world? Then, how come this state became bankrupt in just three months?

I asked Abbas this question in person because he is one of the administrators who belongs to a generation that is supposed to have an answer. I am sure you have heard the saying, «You cannot find the luxury villas in Ramallah at Istanbul’s Bebek.» This contradiction becomes more obvious when you see Rafah. If the money transferred to Palestine for years had been used wisely and fairly, Palestine would have been able to stand on its own feet today. Yes, it is true that occupation causes degeneration. The occupation system causes degeneration in economies and people, too. And there is no need to look for a greater aggressor instead of the aggrieved. However, the present situation in Palestine makes me sad. The Palestinian nation does not deserve occupation nor does it deserve to be governed so badly.

Norske NGO-er og journalister skriver om de 160.000 offentlige ansatte som ikke får lønn. Men som Belci sier: Halvparten av dem er sikkerhetsstyrker, og kampen om penger er også en kamp om hvem som beholder kontrollen med voldsmakten. Et innlysende faktum.

However, I have the opinion that Abbas is trying to find money to pay the salaries of security forces directly affiliated to himself where al-Fatah supporters constitute the majority, while Hamas holding the key to the Palestinian treasury is unable to pay the salaries of the forces at issue. I have not seen any teachers, doctors or municipal workers organizing demonstrations because they have not been paid their salaries. But it was the police officers who climbed up the roofs of buildings and fired into the air. It is possible that a «financial civil war» has begun in Palestine.

Zaman Daily er for øvrig Tyrkias første nettavis.

With Hamas, but for how Long?