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Last update - 19:20 18/06/2009
U.S. ups pressure on Israel to end Gaza blockade
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Shalit, U.S., Israel news 

The United States has stepped up pressure on Israel regarding the Gaza Strip: Three weeks ago it sent Jerusalem a diplomatic note officially protesting Gaza policy and demanding a more liberal opening of the border crossings to facilitate reconstruction.

U.S. and Israeli sources say the note was followed by a verbal communication clarifying that the Obama administration thinks Israel's linkage of the case of abducted soldier Gilad Shalit and the opening of the crossings was not constructive.

The note was delivered to Israel after a decision by senior U.S. officials including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and special Mideast envoy George Mitchell. The latter discussed the contents of the note during his visit to Israel last week.
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U.S. demands on Israel's Gaza policy were also raised Wednesday during talks between Clinton and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who is on an official visit to Washington.

The note focused on a number of issues that have troubled the U.S. administration regarding Israeli policy toward the Gaza Strip.

The note's central message was that if Israel believes that the Palestinian Authority should be strengthened vis-a-vis Hamas, it must take the necessary steps regarding the Strip.

The first task is to allow food and medicine into the territory. A senior political source in Jerusalem said the Americans have noticed some improvement here, but there has been no consistency or transparency on the types of foods permitted in.

Another issue is the transfer of cash to banks in the Strip. U.S. officials have asked that Israel continue to allow the transfer of funds from Ramallah-based banks to Gaza banks to avoid damaging the enclave's banking and financial system.

A third issue in the note was the expansion of the system for opening the border crossings, and permission to import a variety of goods that would enable imports and exports and encourage economic growth.

The note also focused on construction materials such as cement and iron, which would be used to rebuild the damage caused by Israel's three-week Gaza offensive last winter.

The U.S. administration emphasized that in parallel with its demands of Israel, it was willing to assist in establishing an international supervisory mechanism under UN auspices to ensure that the building materials were used for civilian purposes and not Hamas' fortifications.

The diplomatic note was delivered to the Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office.

Verbally, the Americans relayed a message on Israel's linkage of the Shalit case with a more extensive opening of the border crossings. Israel is particularly insistent that unless there is progress in the negotiations for Shalit's release and a new sign of life is received, there will be no concessions on the crossings.

The United States made clear that it is dissatisfied with this Israeli policy and wants Jerusalem to reevaluate its stance. "Until you change this, it will be impossible to progress," a source quoted the American officials as saying.

"This policy has not led to progress on the Shalit case and we do not think that it is contributing to anything," the U.S. officials were quoted as saying.

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      1.   Saw Haniyeh and some of his cohorts 02:26  |  Lynn 18/06/09
      2.   By showing animosity to America Iran and Hamas gained her support 02:34  |  Absolute Sweden 18/06/09
      3.   Funny how Obama won`t interfere in Iran but will in Israel 02:45  |  JL 18/06/09
      4.   Americans dont care about anything but their own agenda 02:47  |  Alfredo 18/06/09
      5.   Call a spade a spade 02:53  |  Truthteller 18/06/09
      6.   Too bad for Obama 02:55  |  A Nice Fellow 18/06/09
      7.   The problem is trust 02:58  |  fritz t. 18/06/09
      8.   How many people live in Gaza....??!! 03:03  |  FK 18/06/09
      9.   If it were me ..... 03:07  |  Lou Medel 18/06/09
      10.   Gilad Shalit 03:12  |  Dov 18/06/09
      11.   Mr. President: Just so you know... 03:15  |  Jasper 18/06/09
      12.   Send 6th Fleet 03:16  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/06/09
      13.   enough 03:27  |  Natallie Durson 18/06/09
      14.   A president with courage AND a moral compass? 03:31  |  Natallie Durson 18/06/09
      15.   WHAT? 03:36  |  Lia D`Elana 18/06/09
      16.   Stand up for Shalit 03:41  |  Sonya 18/06/09
      17.   Hamas prisoners are worth the trade for Shalit 03:42  |  Joe 18/06/09
      18.   US official: "we do not think that it is contributing to anything 03:46  |  Fish 18/06/09
      19.   Simply Disgusting... 03:51  |  Glad I got out! 18/06/09
      20.   USA go home! 03:57  |  Nechama 18/06/09
      21.   Oblaaama is a pain in the kishkas 04:02  |  Nechama 18/06/09
      22.   Shalit connection undermines security connection 04:05  |  Paul Freedman 18/06/09
      23.   Hamas Is Not Doing Anything That The Irgun Didn`t Do 04:26  |  Binyamin 18/06/09
      24.   do not end 04:39  |  Natallie Durson 18/06/09
      25.   american policy goals: 04:49  |  dan 18/06/09
      26.   Opps 04:59  |  Simon Mohammed 18/06/09
      27.   USA should shut up 05:08  |  Bob 18/06/09
      28.   Provide Free Boat Rides to Washington 05:11  |  UsedToPostHere 18/06/09
      29.   Stand Firm Bibi 05:12  |  Natallie Durson 18/06/09
      30.   #16 You lie. 05:34  |  No Dope 18/06/09
      31.   stick 2 your internal problems 05:40  |  efraim 18/06/09
      32.   Some courage and morality 05:40  |  No Dope 18/06/09
      33.   What about kidnapped Palestinians? 05:44  |  Mark 18/06/09
      34.   absolute sweden 2 05:46  |  potobac 18/06/09
      35.   To Lynn 05:50  |  Arturo 18/06/09
      36.   Go home? 05:50  |  chaotic1 18/06/09
      37.   U.S. precedent 05:52  |  Christopher 18/06/09
      38.   Collective Punishment 05:52  |  chaotic1 18/06/09
      39.   Pass it 05:53  |  Nattalie Durson 18/06/09
      40.   Haha their is a Pro-Israel supporter cloaking as Natallie Durson 05:58  |  Marc Leb 18/06/09
      41.   Shalit is a barganing chip to the Israelis. 06:00  |  Marc Leb 18/06/09
      42.   Israel has stepped up pressure on the USA 06:03  |  Levi 18/06/09
      43.   Hamas are heroes of Resistance - no matter how much you demonize 06:08  |  Marc Leb 18/06/09
      44.   The Money 06:09  |  Jeff Northridge 18/06/09
      45.   If Obama wants the end of the `siege` ... 06:16  |  Morris Valentine 18/06/09
      46.   Obama, what are you demanding of Hamas 06:23  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/06/09
      47.   Shalit! 06:24  |  Le Corbeau 18/06/09
      48.   #7 He is respecting the rule of law, Natallie 06:30  |  Johnboy 18/06/09
      49.   Siege Never Was About Shalit or Security 06:31  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/06/09
      50.   Tell us more ... 06:34  |  Jasper 18/06/09
      51.   3 JL - Pull Your Head Out - Gaza Ain`t Israel 06:35  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/06/09
      52.   Well, the US criticism is actually pretty mild. 06:38  |  Johnboy 18/06/09
      53.   Obama is a BIG Dissapointment 06:39  |  Joel g 18/06/09
      54.   Israel! Tell Hillary To Pound Sand! No Shalit No Deal! 06:42  |  Eli 18/06/09
      55.   These American officials are jerks 06:48  |  IW 18/06/09
      56.   Obama the 1 term President. Even his Democrates are against him. 06:56  |  Levi 18/06/09
      57.   #21, Morris Valentine 07:07  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/06/09
      58.   #25 Jeff still denying reality.... 07:22  |  Johnboy 18/06/09
      59.   Gaza Strip 07:26  |  Marco 18/06/09
      60.   #16 Binyamin - Nice story about the Irgun 07:27  |  *BEN JABO 18/06/09
      61.   Obama will not push this issue 07:29  |  Ron 18/06/09
      62.   #23 Funny indeed, Levi 07:30  |  Johnboy 18/06/09
      63.   the ones who passionately plee for Shalit 07:37  |  rm 18/06/09
      64.   You can`t compare... 07:46  |  Jim 18/06/09
      65.   If the US wants to end the Siege 07:48  |  Mark Lincoln 18/06/09
      66.   Obama can tell Egypt to end the siege 07:49  |  jt 18/06/09
      67.   If I Were President... 07:53  |  Yosemite 18/06/09
      68.   US - shut up and go home!! 08:16  |  elisia121 18/06/09
      69.   57 elisia 10:35  |  john, Canadian 18/06/09
      70.   californian wisdom by jeff 33 10:39  |  john, Canadian 18/06/09
      71.   More Obama left wing nonsense 10:45  |  Peter Williams 18/06/09
      72.   Johnboy likes it both ways 10:55  |  Peter Williams 18/06/09
      73.   GIVE INTO AMERICAN PRESSURE 10:59  |  Unchel Ben Joseph 18/06/09
      74.   #61 Peter Williams and his "gotcha" claim. 11:37  |  Johnboy 18/06/09
      75.   Mark Lincoln 11:47  |  TonyL 18/06/09
      76.   Obama, Shalit, and Mubarak 11:49  |  nadav 18/06/09
      77.   HAMAS has told Israel what it must do to gain 11:50  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/06/09
      78.   someone should tell billary there is no water 11:52  |  v hardman 18/06/09
      79.   Nobody cares about Gilad 11:54  |  DB 18/06/09
      80.   Jeff in Northridge - It`s getting hot isn`t it 12:58  |  Skandar 18/06/09
      81.   #13 Mark of Lewiston 13:05  |  BDS 18/06/09
      82.   I love Israel and apologize 13:16  |  Natallie Durson 18/06/09
      83.   what did the nazis did to the israelites again? 13:18  |  antonio 18/06/09
      84.   Johnboy # 47 My Three Guesses: Egypt, Egypt, And Egypt 13:44  |  Jeff Northridge 18/06/09
      85.   trade off with Obama 13:44  |  Jew 18/06/09
      86.   Durson, leave the apologies, come to a good visit, learn Hebrew 13:49  |  Israeli citizen 18/06/09
      87.   nazi/ israel/ antonio 13:51  |  dave 18/06/09
      88.   To Antonio UK - Nonsense. 13:51  |  Vital 18/06/09
      89.   delaying 13:51  |  second time 18/06/09
      90.   Open 16:13  |  MMM 18/06/09
      91.   Don`t Lift the Blockade Until Shalit is Home 16:25  |  Dora 18/06/09
      92.   #14 & #15 now that people realize your more than one person or 16:26  |  world observer 18/06/09
      93.   .US should be demanding Geneva convention for schalit.... 16:26  |  bernard ross 18/06/09
      94.   db 80 16:29  |  potobac 18/06/09
      95.   #24 is your information from the Paul Newman`s movie Exodus or do 16:36  |  world observer 18/06/09
      96.   President Obama...What would you do? 16:41  |  Daniel 18/06/09
      97.   Israel continues to commit war crimes in Gaza 16:43  |  Dutch 18/06/09
      98.   Gaza Airport: Mark Lincoln #66 17:06  |  Jasper 18/06/09
      99.   Natallie is right. Gilad Shalit release? 18:29  |  Tony Silver 18/06/09
      100.   Shut Up Aid Too 18:31  |  Mike 18/06/09
      101.   Jasper - reality update 18:33  |  Mark Lincoln 18/06/09
      102.   #28 Bob, Israel should get Shalit released 18:34  |  ballistic 18/06/09
      103.   To Ben Jabo 61 and World Observer 96 19:10  |  Binyamin 18/06/09
      104.   Stop giving $3Billion to Israel 19:42  |  DrBrooks 18/06/09
      105.   Funny how Obama won`t interfere with Iran....Response to #3 19:47  |  DrBrooks 18/06/09
      106.   #42 - When is Israel going to "step up" & pay us back 20:05  |  DrBrooks 18/06/09
      107.   DrBrooks #104 keep your money 22:07  |  Gee 18/06/09
      108.   US go home 22:32  |  American 18/06/09
      109.   DrBrooks...Israel can stand alone! Israel is tested 23:07  |  MMM 18/06/09
      110.   Lia D`Elana 00:24  |  sam simple 19/06/09
      111.   New US Policy and Gaza 00:27  |  Bernard Yablin 19/06/09
      112.   RE::Funny how Obama won`t interfere in Iran but will in Israel 00:34  |  saami 19/06/09
      113.   United States Flagged ships docking in Gaza 01:22  |  binny 19/06/09
      114.   the US is crazy 01:25  |  ds 19/06/09
      115.   to Jeff northridge 01:28  |  Monir 19/06/09
      116.   #84 Jeff, your guess is wrong, wrong, wrong 01:28  |  Johnboy 19/06/09
      117.   Bad example Johnboy, 2nd try 01:32  |  Peter Williams 19/06/09
      118.   # 4 Alfredo 01:34  |  maoriboy 19/06/09
      119.   # 9 Lou i agree, but we don`t run our governments 01:40  |  maoriboy 19/06/09
      120.   binyamin 103 01:53  |  potobac 19/06/09
      121.   Obama`s not bluffing 02:21  |  Gully Foyle 19/06/09
      122.   # 46 C J Kohn demands Hamas.. 02:25  |  maoriboy 19/06/09
      123.   # 58 Johnboy..good post ..thanks for the laugh 02:33  |  maoriboy 19/06/09
      124.   # 103 BINYAMIN 03:30  |  abu-halil 19/06/09
      125.   #105 Dr Brooks? 03:39  |  John Allen 19/06/09
      126.   Joel G 07:45  |  mariapalestina 19/06/09
      127.   #113 binny should be binned no idiea of reality 08:35  |  vhardman 19/06/09
      128.   No without Gilad Shalit!!! 08:40  |  lily 19/06/09
      129.   It was to be expected. (3rd try) 08:59  |  S 19/06/09
      130.   Reply to #112 11:22  |  Joseph 19/06/09
      131.   Gaza blockade 20:20  |  Ricardo 19/06/09
      132.   Obama 19:13  |  Samuel 20/06/09
      133.   Us isreali aid 19:25  |  Jeff 20/06/09
      134.   Not Jewish/Israeli Policy But Zionist Policy 19:41  |  Siggy Latarski 20/06/09
      135.   gee 107 18:12  |  potobac 22/06/09
      136.   gaza blockade 17:18  |  sayed 02/07/09
      137.   Are all Israeli`s extremists? 04:23  |  Gabriel 23/07/09
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