An End to Gaza's (Literally) Underground Economy

[oberliner]

RAFAH CITY, Gaza -- After a three-year absence from the store shelves of Gaza, a popular Israeli juice called Tibuzina reappeared recently, only to disappear again in less than an hour. Eager residents, it turned out, had called each other excitedly and rushed to the supermarket. Some got the word but showed up too late. The juice was gone.

Tibuzina is one among many Hebrew brand names that returned to Gaza's stores after Israel eased its economic siege of the territory in June, following its deadly raid on the Turkish flotilla. Gazans have flocked to buy the new goods, which they say are higher-quality and cheaper than what was previously available--contraband ferried through tunnels from Egypt.

But at the Egyptian border, in the heart of Gaza's tunnel industry, there's little if any rejoicing at the blockade's dismantlement. As Israeli consumer goods saturate Gaza's markets, the tunnels have lost their clientele. Smugglers understand that their days are numbered, but there's nothing to replace the jobs the industry provided.

"Work has run dry. Every day is getting worse and worse. It's the end of the tunnel period," says Abu Mohammad, a tunnel owner who has made millions from the industry. "It's not just me suffering. It's everyone in this business. ... No one knows what will happen to us."

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2010/07/an-end-to-gazas-literally-underground-economy/60066/

[EC]

1. He made millions

but he's suffering?


"Work has run dry. Every day is getting worse and worse. It's the end of the tunnel period," says Abu Mohammad, a tunnel owner who has made millions from the industry. "It's not just me suffering. It's everyone in this business. ... No one knows what will happen to us."

[Chulanowa]

3. Nobody likes losing a job

And millions of shekels in Gaza might as well be dirt-ass poor in Gaza. What is he going to buy, a smashed concrete pile with a lovely scrap siding fence and a pool of fresh-raked dirt in the back? And a flat of strawberries? I mean Israel's not going to let him over to go on a shopping spree.

Pondering the economy of Gaza is simply baffling, to tell you the truth. Must be rather like the economy of Siberia during the Soviet years. Sure, you're making money raising your reindeer, but... what are you going to do with it? The Siberian answer was to buy tons of sugar and hope it didn't rain before they ate it all.

On edit: I suppose now he can buy a sno-cone at The Mall.

[oberliner]

4. Millions of shekels in Gaza might as well be dirt-ass poor?

Do you really believe this? You don't think there are wealthy people living in Gaza who live like wealthy people? You think this gentleman lives in poverty?

[Chulanowa]

5. I think it's entirely possible

I mean okay, maybe I'm wrong here. But I would figure that if I were a millionaire, I would have better income options than smuggling juice from Israel. I'd also have greased a few palms, slipped over the Egypt border, and perhaps from there, Europe. I mean hey, even if he's living the high life, all it takes is one bomb. And if there's one thing Gaza isn't experiencing a shortage of, it's various forms of airborne ordinance.

Could be he's a dumbass. I mean, I'm sure there are rich dumb people. Kim Kardashian doesn't seem to be running out of money OR stupid, after all.

[oberliner]

6. Pretty sure he is rich by any objective measure

The article does mention a "plush gated villa" and stables of "Arabian and Spanish purebread horses".

[Chulanowa]

8. Must be nice

I'd bet ten bucks that he's a Hamas party official... but I don't have that kinda dough on me.

[azurnoir]

2. how "interesting"

it seems that Israel could have put an end to the much bewailed tunnel industry long ago butg instead chose to use it as a propaganda item and chose to continue bombing Rafah instead one must wonder just why that was.
Also one wonders if Israel is using this "loosening" of import items to compensate for the West Bank boycott of Israeli goods

[shaayecanaan]

7. Well, the arguments from the pro-Israel side have been fairly strange lately...

they point to the presence of a shopping mall and say "well, obviously they've been able to get everything through the tunnels anyway, so there's no problem with the blockade".

Which sounds arse-backwards. Because surely, if Hamas & co can get all the weapons they want through the tunnels, there is no *point* to the blockade?

[Chulanowa]

9. What do you mean "lately"?

Their arguments have always been "fairly strange."