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Last update - 08:03 04/07/2009
Report: Israel mulling easing Gaza siege
By The Associated Press
Tags: Gilad Shalit, Israel news 

The Defense Ministry has recommended a partial lifting of the embargo on the Gaza Strip as a goodwill gesture toward the Palestinians to spur talks to free a long-held captive soldier, Israeli media reported Friday.

Israel has been linking the opening of Gaza's borders to the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held by Hamas militants for more than three years. Hamas has been pushing for a deal to trade him for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners currently held in Israeli jails.

Israel imposed a near-total embargo of the Gaza Strip in 2007 after Hamas militants violently took control of the territory.
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According to the new plan, reported by the news Web site Ynet, Israel would increase supplies of coffee, tea, soup, meat, fish and canned goods into Gaza ahead of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, which begins in August, to promote a deal for Shalit.

Israel would also renew shipments of fuel, clothing, kitchenware and egg-laying chickens as part of the package.

Ynet reported that the proposal had been drafted by defense officials and awaits the approval of Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

The Defense Ministry would not officially comment on the report.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said Friday that if there was any truth to the report, it would represent a righting of a previous wrong.

"The Palestinian people have one single, clear demand - the siege must be lifted and all the crossings have to be open and life to get back to normal in the Gaza Strip," he told reporters outside a Gaza mosque after Friday prayers.

The idea behind the plan, according to Ynet, was to lift the embargo gradually and link it to progress on Egyptian-mediated talks aimed at releasing Shalit from captivity. The plan does not include transferring products such as steel and concrete, which are needed to rebuild the battered territory but could also help Hamas improve its military capabilities.

Hamas and other militants have fired thousands of missiles at Israeli border towns and communities in recent years.

Israel has come under heavy pressure from the international community - including the Obama administration - to lift its embargo, which has crippled the Gaza economy. Gaza has survived largely thanks to a booming underground smuggling trade between Gaza and Egypt.

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      1.   So Generous of Israel 15:02  |  isratinian 03/07/09
      2.   Good new. Kudos to Israel 15:11  |  Natallie Durson 03/07/09
      3.   Translation 15:13  |  Peter 03/07/09
      4.   OK, let them have chickens 15:16  |  WHG 03/07/09
      5.   gaza 15:17  |  joe 03/07/09
      6.   Defeatism 15:18  |  Arie 03/07/09
      7.   Instead of starting killing Haniyeh&Co Ehud Barak beggs again 15:18  |  Absolute Sweden 03/07/09
      8.   Nothing will happen 15:27  |  Chris Linthwaite 03/07/09
      9.   Goodwill Hamas as always would declare as victory 15:39  |  Jew-and Bookburner 03/07/09
      10.   obvious mistake 15:45  |  Amir 03/07/09
      11.   first good step... 15:57  |  Cesare 03/07/09
      12.   If It Will Help Shalit - Good 16:42  |  Jane 03/07/09
      13.   Israel should squeeze Gaza even tighter 17:24  |  Nechama 03/07/09
      14.   Enough with the goodwill! 17:40  |  MARK KLEIN, M.D. 03/07/09
      15.   Israel "Mulls" a lot of things 17:50  |  Really 03/07/09
      16.   Easing Gaza Siege 18:31  |  Steve Gure 03/07/09
      17.   Chris Linthwaite (#8) Yes, yes Starving Palestinians 18:46  |  Gil 03/07/09
      18.   the siege 18:46  |  rm 03/07/09
      19.   The Starving Palestinians in Gaza 2006 to 2009 18:48  |  Gil 03/07/09
      20.   They have bitten the hand of peace before 18:56  |  MPH 03/07/09
      21.   to mph 19:16  |  rm 03/07/09
      22.   C Linthwaite 19:16  |  Jasper 03/07/09
      23.   Hamas Should NOT be Rewarded!!! 19:31  |  DM 03/07/09
      24.   # 15 rm 19:33  |  Axel 03/07/09
      25.   Still Mulling? 19:44  |  Mark Lincoln 03/07/09
      26.   #16 Gil 19:46  |  Chris Linthwaite 03/07/09
      27.   goodwill gesture?! 19:55  |  Jennifer 03/07/09
      28.   Free Shalit first! Then ease the embargo! Without Gilad 19:56  |  Vittorio 03/07/09
      29.   Hamas logic 20:15  |  oz 03/07/09
      30.   increasing supplied of coffee and tea 20:55  |  Palestinian 03/07/09
      31.   A nice effort 21:02  |  Z 03/07/09
      32.   The embargo is outrageous beyond belief. 21:51  |  Stephen L 03/07/09
      33.   How do Israelis sleep at night--in the land of the "mullers" 22:41  |  Labhras 03/07/09
      34.   Mulling? Maybe? 22:48  |  jim the mechanic 03/07/09
      35.   Israel,s so called democracy taken over by Oligarchs 22:50  |  Labhras 03/07/09
      36.   Israel slaughterd thousands of chickens in Gaza. 23:22  |  Maureen Ann 03/07/09
      37.   Chris Linthwaite (#19) So Loran Booth was not in Gaza? 23:22  |  Gil 03/07/09
      38.   at will 23:25  |  alberto 03/07/09
      39.   Israel mulling easing Gaza siege 23:37  |  Chet 03/07/09
      40.   Nice to witness that evrybody coming back to their sences 23:37  |  Mamode 03/07/09
      41.   #4.WHG, note that pasta is still BANNED 23:41  |  Billy Boy 03/07/09
      42.   Gaza Siege (45 semis per day) 23:43  |  Jasper 03/07/09
      43.   No humility at all! 00:21  |  Jim 04/07/09
      44.   #30 Gil 00:40  |  Chris Linthwaite 04/07/09
      45.   There is no generosity or goodwill in this 00:47  |  Jordan Vinson 04/07/09
      46.   gaza siege 00:59  |  tommy keogh 04/07/09
      47.   Maureen Ann- chicken chow mein 01:22  |  Arnold 04/07/09
      48.   Billy Boy Pasta is a serious threat to Israel 02:09  |  Mark Lincoln 04/07/09
      49.   absolute sweden 7 02:12  |  potobac 04/07/09
      50.   hamas keeps the borders closed 02:15  |  chappaqua neighbor 04/07/09
      51.   There should be no connection between Shalit and the siege 03:28  |  Esther 04/07/09
      52.   Gee..what will Hamas do in return 03:33  |  Arnold 04/07/09
      53.   #46 Arnold. Cockroaches in the Israeli Knesset sandwich... 04:19  |  Maureen Ann 04/07/09
      54.   Easing the siege? Bad idea 05:36  |  Conroy 04/07/09
      55.   Duh!! wasn`t the blockade the result.. 06:08  |  maoriboy 04/07/09
      56.   #51,Esther its all connected 06:38  |  Chappaqua neighbor 04/07/09
      57.   #51,Esther its all connected 06:49  |  chappaqua neighbor 04/07/09
      58.   Israel should destroy ALL the tunnels and then 06:58  |  Nechama 04/07/09
      59.   Bring on the chicken soup and kreplach! 09:00  |  hala 04/07/09
      60.   Duh!! wasn`t the blockade the result.. 09:46  |  maoriboy 04/07/09
      61.   #51, Esther 10:04  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/07/09
      62.   Gil #37 12:12  |  jennifer 04/07/09
      63.   Israel should be resolute 14:16  |  Brod 04/07/09
      64.   WHY? I DON`T UNDERSTAND, WHY? 15:49  |  indrajaya 04/07/09
      65.   Chris Linthwaite (#44) Now, Now Chris 16:02  |  Gil 04/07/09
      66.   Justice 16:13  |  Vladek 04/07/09
      67.   Jennifer (#56) 18:42  |  Gil 04/07/09
      68.   Two wrongs dont make a right. 20:22  |  Robert Norman 04/07/09
      69.   Israel "mulls" alot of things 00:15  |  Really 05/07/09
      70.   hamas keeps the borders closed? 02:08  |  Mark Lincoln 05/07/09
      71.   Nechama from Sydney 02:14  |  Mark Lincoln 05/07/09
      72.   Pointing this out again..... 04:38  |  Johnboy 05/07/09
      73.   Cipora # 61 to Esther (#51) 05:40  |  S 05/07/09
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