Israel’s News Blog Magazine: Daily Stories Video and PhotosWhen Jewish settlements in Gaza were evacuated last August, some buildings were left standing by the Israeli military. These buildings, some of them former municipal office buildings, schools, etc., are now finding new uses by Palestinians who have claimed the areas as their own. Though many areas are still declared ‘off limits’ by the central Palestinian Authority (due to internal wrangling over who actually gets to use these areas) others, such as in the former community of Neve Dekalim are now being used by a branch of Al-Aksa University, whose rectors plan to create a campus that will eventually contain more than 7,000 students.
Initial feelings of animosity against the Jewish residents resulted in a number of buildings, particularly synagogues and other religious institutions, being burned and vandalized by militant Palestinians pouring out their hatred towards the former “occupiers”. These feelings soon changed as many Palestinians began to see the value of using these properties for their own benefit. Though large sums of money are needed to renovate these buildings, work has begun in earnest on several of these projects, particularly the one at Neve Dekalim. Al Aksa, despite having it’s own funding crises due to it being a ‘public university’ is still managing to secure donations from outside entities, including a substantial one from the United Arab Emirates, as well as from countries like Saudi Arabia. The university hopes to officially open the new campus in the coming September, providing the P.A.’s own financial problems improves by then.
The Director of the new campus, Sayez Abu Samal, was recently quoted as saying that despite the funding problems, the university will continue to operate including the new campus. Al Aksa now has three campuses: in Kahn Unis, Gaza City, and the new one in Neve Dekalim. Students have a fairly wide choice of study options, and come from literally all sections of Palestinian society. Though more men are currently enrolled, a growing number of women are also taking advantage of one of the lowest tuition rates among Palestinian colleges and universities.
Other areas formerly containing Jewish settlements are also being ‘recycled’ for use by their new Palestinian landlords. Settlements that formerly had resort facilities along the Mediterranea, such as Shirat Ha-Yam, are now beginning to be used by Palestinians for their own enjoyment. “We made good profits when the Jews lived here, and hopefully, the will happen again – this time with our own people”, a Palestinian who opened a coffee house was said to comment. In fact, this person, named Sabrij Ak-Kdera is actually head of the Al-Aksa military brigades in the Khan Unis area. “I am optimistic that this entire area will one day become a big tourist attraction for foreigners, as well as for Palestinians. However, Israelis will not be welcomed – at least for now.”
Perhaps, if peace occurs one day between Israelis and Palestinians, clever entrepreneurs will see the profits that can be made in these beach resorts by allowing Israelis in, as Egyptians did when the Sinai coast was returned to their jurisdiction. These areas may even become the beginnings of an era of economic cooperation between the two peoples.
2 Comments
LOL! The head of a terrorist organization wants to kick off the tourist industry for Gaza? Will he be starting the human equivalent of the roach motel - the guests check in but they don’t check out?
Hey West Bank!
Don’t you remember the song by the Eagles called Hotel California? The last words of the song were:
“you can ‘check out’ any time you want, but you can never leave!”
Maybe some tourism prosperty will turn guys like him in to changed men. Either that or like the Bates Hotel in Psycho?
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