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Incident in Gaza - Israeli forces storm Jericho prison
Comment by MAST Ltd
The following news story on page 2 outlines the recent incident in Gaza when the Israeli army stormed a prison in Jericho to capture a Palestinian who is in prison for the murder of an Israeli government minister, and was being held there under internationally agreed supervision. Britain was one of the monitors.
Why does this matter for the crew of X and the owner.
In view of the fact that British monitors left the prison only moments before the Israelis arrived, the Palestinian authorities and public at large are accusing the British of colluding with the Israelis and breaching the international agreement in relation to the prison.
This has caused widespread aggression against Western and British interests in the area. It serves to further tarnish the British reputation in the Middle East and the feeling amongst many Arabs that we are indistinguishable from the US and Israel.
Therefore, all British people abroad in the Middle East should be aware that in come circles there is a growing frustration against the UK and the West in general and as a result an increased likelihood of being caught up in indiscriminate attacks.
NB
This story coupled with the recent furore over the cartoons published in a Danish magazine, only serves to further inflame anti western sentiment.
When proceeding ashore everyone should be mindful of avoiding controversial discussions and remain anonymous so far as possible
By Martin Patience - BBC News website, Jerusalem
Black smoke poured from the burning British Council building in Gaza City, an HSBC branch was vandalised in Ramallah, and eleven foreigners were seized across the Palestinian territories.
The violence against Westerners in the wake of the British and American decision to withdraw their monitors from the Jericho prison is the latest in a series of attacks on foreign workers and Western targets.
Just a year ago, violence towards foreigners was almost unheard of in the Palestinian territories, but now the attacks are becoming commonplace.
The trend started in Gaza last summer where there was a spate of kidnappings of foreigners.
A deteriorating security situation led to an exodus of foreign workers from the volatile Strip.
The United Nations pulled all non-essential staff from Gaza citing security concerns.
Worrying dynamic
In recent months, however, the attacks have developed a worrying dynamic for foreign workers in the region.
Frustration
The attacks on foreigners are borne from a growing sense of frustration in Palestinian life, says Bassam Nasser, a political analyst in Gaza City.
The row over cartoons satirising Muhammad only heightened tensions
While he says the majority of Palestinians condemn the attacks on the British Council and the kidnapping of foreigners "the level of hatred is increasing towards Westerners particularly because of the war in Iraq and the cartoons."
In Palestinian society, there is an increasing frustration about the failure to attain statehood and rampant unemployment.
There is also the perception that the West favours Israel over the Palestinians, says Mr Nasser, which has led to growing disillusionment.
"They wanted us to vote in a democratic manner but when we voted they didn't like our choice," he says, in reference to threats to cut funding to a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.
While there is still tension in the West Bank and Gaza over the UK's and US's actions, most observers believe it will dissipate in the coming days.
But most agree foreigners will have to continue being careful in the Palestinian territories.
(Above story - BBC sources)
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