(Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) Nathan J. Brown - As political upheavals spread over much of the Middle East, in both the West Bank and Gaza, a soft authoritarianism that has provoked uprisings elsewhere has only been further entrenching itself. Civil society in Gaza continues to function, but in a context that places limits on political activity and opposition. Hamas' Islamizing agenda has been put on hold for now, but the political system is completely bereft of any mechanisms of accountability. The media and domestic NGOs are carefully controlled. Opposition parties remain restricted in what they can do openly or publicly. Since elections are very difficult to imagine at present, Gazans - and all Palestinians - remain voiceless in their own affairs.
2012-06-15 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive