Adjusting to peace in Gaza

By James Rodgers BBC correspondent in Gaza

New times have brought new tasks for Gaza City's public employees. They're whitewashing the walls.

It's not civic pride, but part of the peace process.

In the streets around the Islamic University, as elsewhere, workers have removed graffiti glorifying attacks on Israel.

We're removing the slogans to stop incitement Painters' foreman Younis Shomaly

A metre-high red and orange slogan declared that the armed wing of the militant group Hamas was as strong as a mountain.

It gradually disappeared.

The job is potentially dangerous. Armed police stand guard across the street.

Not everything is covered - the faces of dead militant leaders are left staring out at passers-by.

The painters' foreman, Younis Shomaly, believes the truce will only last if Israel makes moves, too.

"The Palestinian factions decided on a three-month ceasefire. We're removing the slogans to stop incitement.

"In return for that Israel should remove settlements, withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza, and release all prisoners," he argues.

Deep roots

The new plan for peace in the Middle East demands that the Palestinians end incitement against Israel.

A coat of paint may cover over the slogans, but it won't remove the hatred which inspired them.

Even state TV is more relaxed now

The slogans can reappear, and so can the violence, if moves to end the conflict grind to a halt.

There are changes at the Palestinian Authority's official TV station too.

The afternoon I visited, the news bulletin was followed by a sentimental song about the Palestinian homeland.

The programming hasn't always been so mild.

I reflect what's happening. When there is peace there is relaxation and normal things. Palestinian TV executive

The Israelis say that during the Palestinian intifada - or uprising - the channel has poured out hatred for Israel.

The station claimed they were unable to provide us with extracts from any old bulletins.

If their coverage has altered, they say, it's only because the situation has.

"We don't fabricate the news. I cannot show an aeroplane when it's not in the air," says Samir Al-Sharif, a senior executive at the channel.

I ask him if new times have meant new ways of working.

"I reflect what's happening," he replies. "When there is peace there is relaxation and normal things. But when killings happen I have to show that killings happen."

It's still not long since deaths were an almost daily event.

Unpredictable currents

Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, was occupied by the Israeli Army in May: two weeks after the latest peace plan was formally presented to the two sides.

The troops moved in to stop Palestinians firing crude, home-made, rockets at Israel.

They uprooted vast numbers of fruit trees. The Israelis they said the militants had used the orchards as cover while they launched their attacks.

Now a warm summer wind blows across the wasteland.

Many livelihoods have been destroyed with the orange groves, but local residents are relieved that the area is back under Palestinian control.

Gaza's children are having an easier summer this year

As a result, Gaza's children are having an easier holiday this year.

At a seaside summer camp, there's dancing, painting, football, and theatre.

The organisers aren't sure the calm will continue.

But the camp manager, Muntaha Al-Masri, is just grateful for the changes the ceasefire has brought.

"The children can move from one place to another," she says, "and learn about places like playgrounds, and recreation centres, go to the beach freely, and see historical sites they need to learn about."

The camp's activities continue on the beach: games, but no swimming.

Even in summer, the sea off the Gaza coast is deceptively dangerous.

Its inviting waters conceal unpredictable currents. The chances for lasting peace here are equally uncertain.