Telegraph

Your Prime Minister is just a pimp, say the refugees of Gaza City By Inigo Gilmore and Ohad Gozani in Tel Aviv (Filed: 02/11/2001)

ON the streets of Gaza City's sprawling beach camp yesterday there was deep suspicion about Tony Blair's visit and his real intentions towards the Palestinians.

"We saw the television pictures of Tony Blair in Syria and we think he looks like a pimp and acts like one," said Khaled Zakoud, 17, a student. "He is a liar who will say anything to try to please the Arab world. We don't trust him."

Khaled's friends, gathered on a corner of the graffiti-scarred street in the dilapidated neighbourhood where 70,000 refugees live cheek by jowl, nodded in approval.

Most people appeared not to know that Mr Blair was coming, nor did they much care. The residents said they had grown tired of the endless procession of foreign leaders who breezed through Gaza with empty promises.

"What is Blair going to do here?" asked Mohammed al-Najar, also 17. "We get all these visits from these foreign leaders who think they are so important but they are all useless. We are sick of it. We hear only words and more words but they do nothing for the Palestinians."

Even the younger generation here harbours bitterness towards the British over perceptions that they created and helped to sustain the Jewish homeland at their expense, stemming from the Balfour Declaration of Nov 2, 1917.

Many can recite the key phrases of the declaration by Britain's then foreign minister word for word: "His Majesty's Government views with favour the establishment of a homeland for Jewish people in Palestine." They are keen to remind you that the British appear to have forgotten the accompanying clause: that the homeland should "not prejudice the civil and religious rights of non-Jewish people".

These days there are new resentments to add to the old. They say that in recent years the British have shown little appetite for supporting the Palestinians and now there is anger over the killing of fellow Muslims in Afghanistan.

The recent images of Yasser Arafat meeting Mr Blair in London and the Prime Minister's vocal support for a Palestinian state have made little impact on the people of Gaza.

Many regarded the Prime Minister's sudden support for a Palestinian state as deeply suspicious. "Blair talks all the time about a Palestinian state. But I'm sure once the war in Afghanistan is over he will forget all about us," said Mohammed Safid, 37, a businessman. Maher Helles, the owner of a sweet shop, did offer some positive gloss. "Things have changed since September 11 and the coalition to fight terror is very important now. So Blair just might push Israel to do something."

The Blair visit also failed to arouse much optimism among Israelis. "Blair is a charming guy, but he can't do much in such a complex situation," said Sima Osias, a 27-year-old secretary.

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2001