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Pasta is not a weapon By Haaretz Editorial Tags: IDF, hamas, gaza, israel news The border crossings between Israel and Gaza have become a central tool in the struggle against Hamas in the years since it took over the Strip. Security circles claim they have solid proof that Hamas is using raw materials and "innocent" products for the creation of weapons. In addition to the security arguments, Israel makes it difficult for goods to enter the Gaza Strip as a means of punishment and as pressure on Hamas every time it disturbs the peace. Recently Israel added food products, such as pasta, and building materials, such as glass, which are needed for repairing the many buildings destroyed during Operation Cast Lead, to the list of prohibited goods. The experience from the war in Lebanon and the territories should have taught the decision makers that collective punishment of the civilian population is not merely not moral, but also harmful. The residents do not turn their anger against Hamas but rather against those who prevent the food from reaching their children and even against their Palestinian interlocutors in Ramallah. The international community, including the moderate Arab states, which is currently enlisting donations for rehabilitating the Gaza Strip, is being forced to condemn Israel for its imperviousness to the humanitarian needs of one and a half million long-suffering civilians. Haaretz reported yesterday that United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has demanded Israel remove the restrictions on the transfer of humanitarian aid to the Strip, and that she plans to address this issue during her upcoming visit. Advertisement Israel's legitimate struggle against Hamas does not gain credence from the fact that the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Kerry, discovered during his visit to Gaza that trucks loaded with bags of pasta are not being permitted to enter the Gaza Strip because Israel is letting in only rice. The result is that Hamas has chalked up points to its credit in the struggle for world public opinion. The closing of the border crossings has so far not opened the way for Gilad Shalit to be returned and there is not an iota of evidence that tightening the closure will advance his release by Hamas. It is superfluous to wait for the worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and for additional pressure from outside. Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak must immediately order the opening of the crossings to enable the orderly, constant entry of essential products into the Gaza Strip. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Celebrity conversion Lindsay Lohan is said to be converting to Judaism for her DJ girlfriend. Settlement expansion Peace Now: Israel planning 73,300 new homes in the West Bank.   1.   I like the title of your editorial 02:56  |  Marlene N. 26/02/09   2.   Pasta? weapons? 10:32  |  Abhishek 26/02/09   3.   Pasta and F16s 10:34  |  Ed 26/02/09   4.   Marlene N., do you sympathize Al-Qaeda? 10:47  |  Sceptic 26/02/09   5.   It`s probably some minor clerk suffering frustration... 11:20  |  Esther 26/02/09   6.   Pasta 11:27  |  Tito Anselmi 26/02/09   7.   Dense Inert Pasta Explosive 11:37  |  M. Ossad 26/02/09   8.   Neither is peace made out of false ingredients 12:17  |  Ivar 26/02/09   9.   Shalit is no less a `humanitarian` issue 12:34  |  Ilan 26/02/09   10.   Esther, on who`s responsible 12:51  |  Maral 26/02/09   11.   It`s not about rockets 13:03  |  Mark Cooper 26/02/09   12.   But You Hide Missile Parts in 100-lb Flour Sacks 16:54  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 26/02/09   13.   I Think Israel Knows That 19:06  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/02/09   14.   Why can`t they make their own food? 19:57  |  Eli 26/02/09   15.   Israel has succeeded in isolating itself 20:02  |  AmerAsian 26/02/09   16.   ovadia ben avraham on the dangers of pasta 20:17  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/02/09   17.   Israel has a severe problem 20:33  |  Chris Linthwaite 26/02/09   18.   Many Americans want another tea party!!! 20:58  |  Dutch 26/02/09   19.   #14 Eli 21:06  |  Elina 26/02/09   20.   1. Marlene, That`s the shame of US/ Israeli policy today 10:08  |  Dutch 27/02/09   21.   Eli # 14 re: Why can`t they make their own food? 19:37  |  American in NY 27/02/09   22.   to Eli #14 - 2nd try 22:18  |  zeev 27/02/09   23.   to Sceptic #4 - 4th try 08:38  |  zeev 02/03/09   24.   to Ivar #8 - 8th try 20:23  |  zeev 04/03/09

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