As Reuters, which willingly goes along with any anti-Israel act, writes:Palestinians inaugurated a symbolic graveyard on Tuesday for factories forced to close by an Israeli blockade that they say is killing jobs.What Reuters of course doesn't mention is that even in the early years of the Intifada there was the Erez Industrial Zone between Gaza and Israel that employed thousands of Palestinian Arabs. As the terrorism increased, Erez became a favored place to attack random Israelis; at least 11 were murdered. Finally, Israel closed down the zone altogether - after over three years of attacks by Palestinians from Gaza.
"The Main Gaza Cemetery for Factories" contains some 40 graves covered with the Palestinian flags and flowers.
"The Plastic Tools factory, 190 workers became jobless," the inscription on one headstone reads. "The Print House, 150 workers lost their source of living," reads another.
And if they every wanted to re-open the factories, they had a funny way of showing it, because the number of attacks towards Erez didn't decrease. Here's a list:
And that is just to the beginning of 2005.
- On January 4, 2005, an Israeli civilian was lightly wounded from two mortar shells that were fired at the Erez industrial zone.
- On January 2, 2005, an Israeli civilian was seriously wounded from a mortar shell that was fired towards the Erez industrial zone.
- On August 31, 2004, a Palestinian terrorist wearing explosive underwear was arrested at the Erez crossing.
- On April 17, 2004, a suicide bomber killed a Border Policeman when he detonated himself at the workers' crossing terminal into the industrial zone.
- On March 6, 2004, four terrorists traveling in three vehicles (two of which were rigged with explosives) attempted to kill Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers at the Erez crossing.
- On Feb 26, 2004, an IDF reserve soldier was killed when two gunmen infiltrated the Erez industrial zone through a tunnel.
- On Jan 14, 2004, a female terrorist carried out a suicide bombing attack in the workers crossing terminal in the Erez industrial zone, where magnetic entering cards are issued. As a result of the attack, one civilian was murdered, in addition to two IDF soldiers and a Border Policeman. The Hamas and Fatah terrorist organizations claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing. It is important to note that this was the first time that Hamas had used a female suicide bomber. The terminal was severely damaged, and needed to be rebuilt. As a result, Palestinians were not able to enter the industrial zone for a few days.
- On Dec 4, 2003 a package containing components for making an explosive device was discovered in a truck carrying mail out from the Gaza Strip.
- On June 20, 2003, a terrorist attack using a bicycle laden with explosives was thwarted at the Palestinian workers’ crossing near Ganei Tal.
- On June 8, 2003 four IDF soldiers were killed and four others injured when three terrorists infiltrated the IDF post Magen 12, in the Erez industrial zone.
- On April 15, 2003 two Israeli civilians were murdered when Palestinians infiltrated the Karni terminal.
- On Feb 21, 2003 a gunman armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, three hand grenades, four magazines, a knife and a fence cutter infiltrated the Erez industrial zone and was killed.
- On May 12, 2003, an Israeli civilian was murdered when a Palestinian worker opened fire at him at the Hila crossing.
- On April 20, 2002, a Border Police officer was killed when a Palestinian gunman opened fire at an IDF post in Erez.
- On April 12, 2004, a Border Police officer was killed when a Palestinian gunman opened fire at the Erez terminal.
- On Nov 26, 2001, four IDF soldiers were lightly injured when a suicide bomber blew him self up at the entrance of the Erez terminal.
While a symbolic grave for factories may be a nice gimmick, people shouldn't forget the direct reason why so many Gazans are unemployed - because they had a nasty habit of trying to murder their employers.