Flint, unfortunately, Gaza would have never become a tourist heaven under Israel operation. Israel left Gaza but then made it into a prison. Their action was to make sure Hamas takes over there and divide the Palastinians so that there could be no Palastine.
Dont forget it is right wing and the military that runs Israel and not the intellectuals and Israelis who want peace. It is run by people like Natanyahu who have never wanted a Palastinian state or a successull Gaza so they can control the Palastinians, get money from US, made more settlements and take over lands. These are the same people that not long ago talked about throwing Palastinians into the ocean. There are many great Israelis but the ones in power are the fundamentalists.
So, no, under what Israel created and when they left, this is exactly what would have happend in Gaza and did happen to Gaza.
Whenever you here the Isralies and massive controlled public relation and control over media and the government through lobbying try to make themselves, the ones with the F16s, M16s, and best tanks and weapons make themselves the victim of the conflict, one thing you have to ask yourself, if they are telling the truth, how come they keep of building settlements? They have been doing it for decades. Then, if again, they play the victims, ask yourself is what they are doing against international laws? If that does not work, ask yourself how long the conflict has been going on and how long has Hamas and Arafat being around. No, my friend, Israelis have been playing victim to this conflict for decade while taking lands away and massacring and killing the palastinians. And they talk about kids getting hurt and every conflict have no problem killing children. And of course blaming it on the Palastinains who kill their own kids.
As for Natanyhu taking of wanting peace, action is important. His actions has weakened Abbas and empowered Hamas. He has no interest in peace only building settlements. How many times did Obama try to bring them to the table and instead he did something to undermine Abbas and speed up settlements instead.
I think it is important to look at the conflict in detail rather than listen to what Israelis and the controlled Israeli tells you.
Look at the map to see what a prime real estate Gaza is. It is sitting on the Mediterranean. Warm climate, no doubt beautiful beaches. Why aren't Hilton and Hyatt there? Where are the beachfront properties? Do you doubt for a second that if Hamas stopped digging tunnels and used the concrete to build seaside hotels Israel would attack them? Gaza could be a tourist paradise but no, we got a bunch of nutjobs in charge. Whatever Israel's intentions were 70 years ago, today they would leave a place like Gaza alone.
Present Israel was made possible only by the wars that Arabs started, from 1948 to 1973. This is a historical fact. On building settlements I agree it is a point of contention. However, the Gaza experiment showed that settlements or lack of them is not going satisfy the likes of Hamas. Israel left Gaza and this is what we have.
If Hamas were more interested in pouring concrete to build ocean front hotels than build tunnels I am sure they would not be treated like "animals". Hamas is fed by Islamic extremism and our own little IR. They are Hezbollah's sister. They are trouble makers.
Tell that to Hamas. Even Netanyahu has accepted some form of Palestinian state. The problem is Hamas and PLO are not on the same page. Who do you sign a treaty with?