Gaza 'genius' helps besieged city survive a year of Israel's blockade

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Fayez Annan turns the silver key to start the power, pushes the green button on the standard industrial jog-run-stop switch on the dashboard, and eases the white Peugeot 205 into the main east-west shopping street in Gaza City.

With traffic abnormally sparse, thanks to the acute fuel shortages caused by the Israeli blockade, he soon reaches the distinctly un-urban and pedestrian-scattering speed of 37 miles per hour (60kph).

But then Mr Annan is proudly trying to make a point that, while it might be electric, this Peugeot is no milkfloat. "It can do 100kph (62mph)," he says with a grin, as our knuckles whiten in the passenger seats. Whether or not Mr Annan's friend Hesham Abu Sido, an electrical consultant, is justified in describing the electric vehicle as a "genius idea" which is "the most fantastic thing that has happened in Gaza", it is certainly a case of turning adversity into opportunity.

It also proves that Gaza's famous entrepreneurial spirit has not yet been snuffed out by the draconian economic blockade imposed by Israel after the Palestinian militant group Hamas seized full control of the Strip by force a year ago tomorrow."

more

[Fredda Weinberg]

1. famous entrepreneurial spirit? Sorry, but this is lipstick on a pig n/t

[Vegasaurus]

2. It seems that most of the Palestinian entrepreneurship

goes towards development of bigger bombs, bigger rockets, and bigger weapons used to kill Jews.

Imagine if they put a fraction of that effort into bettering their own lives.

What a difference it would make for them.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Where do you get yr knowledge on Palestinian entrepeneurs from?

It probably would seem like what you said to those who have no knowledge or interest in the Palestinian people. But we know better than that, don't we, Vegas? I'd be guessing that just like anywhere else, there's Palestinian entrepeneurs like the one in the article who engage in new business ventures, and I don't see where you came up with yr conclusion about bombs, weapons, bombs, Jews, and bombs based on an article that mentioned an entrepeneur and his electric powered car...

[Dick Dastardly]

10. Palestinians are very entrepreneurial

Many come to the US and open up shops and small businesses. One Palestinian I know worked and save up to buy a gasoline station. He built his business up and acquired a few more and then put his own branded sub-shops(sandwich shops like Subway for non Americans) in them. He then opened up some stand alone sub shops with great success. He now franchises these sub-shops out and they are a popular chain. He started with nothing and now ownes dozens of as stations as well as a successfully franchising out many Sub-shops as well as owning some himself. I would not be surprised if it grows into a national chain. Another one I know also started with nothing and now ownes a chain of successful sports-bars. He has got some great hot wings.

When peace does come I have no doubt they will turn it into a prosperous country.

[parkia00]

4. Because anything the Palestinians do is automatically bad

Right? And if we use the two arguments stated above, we can also add in Israel or the IDF about using money to buy bombs rockets and missiles rather than use it better the lives of the citizens of the country. Your post and the one before it by the other poster is hollow an unwarranted. This is about two resourceful people making the best use of a tough situation to better their lives and all you can do is try to divert attention to how bad and evil the Palestinian are and in the process reveal a whole lot about yourselves!

[Vegasaurus]

5. The difference is

that Israelis do not have miserable lives, and do not live on international aid.

They have a highly developed economy, beyond rockets and bombs.

[parkia00]

7. Yeah we know the damn Palestinians are all a miserable lot aren't they?

But the Israelis also do not live under some form of sanctions and are free to travel where they please. Right? Fair comparison? What would life be for Israel and it's citizens if they are face with living in with the same restrictions?

But this argument that I just made and the endless debates here about who is right and who is the bad guy in this conflict is redundant when taking into account the original post about 2 men making the best of a tough position and managed to use what little resources they had to make their lives easier. This could easily have been about a family living in Darfur under their own tough situations. Such actions should be cheered but instead you are quick to remind everyone of the atrocities the Palestinians faction committed in this conflict as if in attempt to cover up the entire original post about these two men and their electric car. And you did all this simply because they were Palestinians and that was enough for you to justify your actions. And we wonder why this conflict seems to go on for generations?

[subsuelo]

9. They get their killing machines from the U.S. of A don't they?

Who else supplies the Apache attack helicopters with which to bravely gun down innocent Palestinians?

[subsuelo]

8. Fine, and Israeli entrepreneurship is all about murdering Muslims

(No I don't believe that, just seeing if you find a statement like that remotely acceptable)

[LeftishBrit]

6. On the subject of Palestinian entrepreneurship for constructive causes...

people may be interested in the following:

www.wintondeshong.com/projects/jozoor/index-middleeast.php