What a Hamas spokesman thinks of conditions in Gaza

Palestinian Authority Government Spokesman Dr. Ghazi Hamad has published, in the PA daily Al-Ayyam, a critique of current events in the Gaza Strip, including scathing criticism of the Hamas government itself and the Palestinian resistance. Here are some selected excerpts from the Jerusalem Post:
"When you walk in the streets of Gaza City, you cannot but close your eyes because of what you see there: unimaginable chaos, careless policemen, young men carrying guns and strutting with pride and families receiving condolences for their dead in the middle of the street."

"Gaza is suffering under the yoke of anarchy and the swords of thugs," Hamad wrote. "I remember the day when Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip and closed the gates behind. Then, Palestinians across the political spectrum took to the streets to celebrate what many of us regarded as the Israeli defeat or retreat. We heard a lot about a promising future in the Gaza Strip and about turning the area into a trade and industrial zone."

Hamad does not place the blame for the lawlessness in Gaza on Israel:
"We're always afraid to talk about our mistakes. We're used to blaming our mistakes on others. What is the relationship between the chaos, anarchy, lawlessness, indiscriminate murders, theft of land, family rivalries, transgression on public lands and unorganized traffic and the occupation? We are still trapped by the mentality of conspiracy theories - one that has limited our capability to think."

"We have all been attacked by the bacteria of stupidity. We have lost our sense of direction and we don't know where we're headed."

And there is this plea to the armed men inflicting chaos on Gaza:
"Please have mercy on Gaza. Have mercy on us from your demagogy, chaos, guns, thugs, infighting. Let Gaza breathe a bit. Let it live."

Longer extracts may be found at the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).
They say admitting a problem is the first step to solving it. Perhaps admitting that not everything that's wrong for the Palestinian Arabs is the fault of Israel is a step forward.