Even though there is constant coverage in the media of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian debacle, there is very little attention paid to the fact that the Palestinians have been suffering from an ever increasing jobless rate for years. It now stands at 86% according to a June UPI report.
Using the known empirical data on worldwide unemployment, such levels should lead to a major increase in violent activity against whoever is perceived as the originator of this dilemma. Obviously, Israel's policy of near total economic blockade for the Palestinians would make it the logical choice. Therefore, the data suggests that massive attacks on Israel should be underway since the beginning of this crisis.
Yet, the evidence suggests the contrary. According to IfAmericansNew.org, only 1,972 Israelis have been killed by Palestinians since September 29, 2000 while 6,348 Palestinians have been killed by the Israelis. This equates to a yearly rate of around 220 Israelis vs. 700 Palestinians killed over that period. Over the same period 123 Israeli children were killed vs 1,435 Palestinian children.
While the killing of even one person is wrong, the fact that much more death and destruction is coming from the Israelis, points to a greatly restrained people in Gaza and the West Bank who, for the most part, reject violence and revenge as a justifiable means to achieve an end to their misery. How much longer this restraint will continue is anyone's guess.
By using past examples of different levels of unemployment and their direct impact on a given country's society, we can see that 20% unemployment, while completely undesirable under any circumstances, will hardly ever lead to a meltdown and overthrow of the current government. The strain will be evidenced by all, but the civil upheaval necessary for regime change will not be present.
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