Now I’m beginning to understand why Hamas is not so keen on Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day: Gazans Give Flowers to Cows and Goats
I guess if there are such things as camel beauty pageants, I shouldn’t be surprised.
Well, actually, if you clicked on the link, you would have seen that the article has nothing to do with unnatural palestinian love for farmyard animals, but is rather another propaganda piece against Israel.
The fragrance of carnation around the greenhouses in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah was distorted by the smell of the dung of cows which were gluttonously eating fresh flowers without paying any attention to the Valentine’s day.
Millions of red, white and pinky flowers were stepped by camels, cows and goats, in an absurd images created by the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip.
Today, Thursday, tens of farmers disposed millions of flowers near the Israeli commercial crossing of Sofa, south of Gaza. The farmers carried thousands of dozens carnation bouquets in trucks protesteing against the Israeli siege on Gaza, calling the international community to end their dilemma.
Farmer, Majed Hadayed, said that he planned to export 16,000,000 flowers to the EU markets, each flowers costs at least 30 cents, but he could not because of the Israeli siege on Gaza.
“I lost $ 1,700,000, because of the siege, all of my dreams were destroyed, I do not know how to pay the salaries of the workers,” said Hadayed.
Farmer Hadayed is either quite the businessman, or a big fat liar, since this similar report quotes an annual export figure of 45 million flowers from Gaza. Based on these figures (which are probably inflated anyway, since they are “official palestinian figures”), Hadayed himself accounts for over a third of flowers exported from Gaza.
He said that he planted 130 donums (130,000 square meters) of flowers, but he was astonished as the Israeli siege continued from June 2007 so far.
“I am scared that some people would sue me because of lots of loans, it is very possible that my name will be on the top of the list of swindlers,” Hadayed said.
At least two hundred workers work at “the Green Orchard Company” owned by Hadayed, he said that all of them have become unemployed and they lost their sole source for living.
Hadayed asserted that the Palestinian farmers in Gaza could not import chemical materials (anti insects), transplants and other agricultural materials.
How arbitrary of those cruel Zionists.
He also pointed out that the Israeli reduction of delivering fuel and cutting power strongly affect their products.
“The siege includes lots of details but the main issue is the issue of exporting, all of our efforts are fruitless as the after production flowers, we can not export,” he said.
Yes, the “siege” does “include lots of details.” Things like constant Qassam rocket and mortar shell attacks on Israel that left Israel with no alternative but to act.
A shepherd has arrived on a donkey cart, Hadayed gave him dozens of bouquet for free, the donkey it self also enjoyed a meal of fresh flower.
I think he means flour.
In the city of Beit Lahia, north of Gaza, farmer Abdullah Abu Halima, said that he reduced production flowers in the time of the Israeli siege.
Abu Halima believes that the real Israeli siege on Gaza has begun before more than 5 years, but it was tightened on June 2007.
Fascinating, considering Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza about 2 and a half years ago. But I guess math is not the palestinians’ strong point.
In June 2007, Hamas Islamist movement forcibly took over Gaza after bloody clashes with the Palestinian official security apparatuses.
“I used to plant 18 donums of carnation, nowadays I just work for two donums only,” Abu Halima said.
At least 4500 Palestinian work at flower sector in Gaza, all of them lost their last hope when the Agricultural Society, in Gaza, declared Monday the end of flower season.
In a press conference held at RNA in Gaza, Ghassan Qassem (unfortunate name – ed.), Chairman of the Agricultural Society said that the farmers ended their flower season because of the siege and power cuts.
Qassem said that the Palestinian farmers used to export 60 million flowers a years while this year the Israelis allowed them to export 5 million flowers only.
Again, contrast to the previously stated “offical palestinian figure” of 45 million flowers annually. It’s funny how palestinian figures always seem to inflate.
He pointed out that production of flower costs lots of money while exporting is impossible in such stranglehold on Gaza.
Qassem added that the farmers have no more fuel to operate their engines of water pumps or generators.
Yet enough to produce Qassams. It’s a Valentine miracle!
