Monday, February 11, 2008

Who's occupying Gaza now?

This is one of the funniest things that I've read for a while - an actual question posted on the UN Web Site where the questioner asks the UN Spokesperson why the UN refers to Gaza as "Occupied Territory" - after all, the only foreign forces in Gaza now are UN troops - is the UN occupying Gaza?

Hat tip: http://drybonesblog.blogspot.com/

Source: http://domino.un.org/

**Questions and Answers

/...

Question: You read a statement about the situation in Gaza before and I know it's difficult to change terminology, but we have a new Secretary-General now, so let me try it again. A year and half after the last Israeli withdrew from Gaza, the UN system still refers to Gaza as an Occupied Palestinian Territory. The only people who are not Palestinian in Gaza currently are UN people. Do you mean that Gaza is occupied by the UN?

Spokesperson: Definitely not.

Question: So who is it occupied by?

Spokesperson: Well…

Correspondent: I think there are some Israeli soldiers on the border…

Question: Not borders, who is Gaza occupied by?

Spokesperson: Traditionally, this is the terminology we have used. Yes?

Question: But the situation on the ground changed since Israel withdrew from Gaza.

Spokesperson: I will look into this.

Correspondent: Thank you.

No comments: