Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., December 04, 2007 Kislev 24, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:01 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Hanukkah

Palestinian students protesting that their names were not on a list to leave the Gaza Strip at the Erez border crossing on Sunday. (AP) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 05:20 03/12/2007 Israel allows 199 Palestinians who reside abroad to leave Gaza By The Associated Press Tags: Palestinians, closure, Gaza  Israel let 199 Palestinians who reside abroad out of the blockaded Gaza Strip on Sunday, and an Israeli official said more would be allowed to leave for their countries of residence later this week. Five busloads of Palestinians entered Israeli territory and then crossed into Egypt through the Kerem Shalom border crossing, said Shadi Yassin, a spokesman for the Israeli civil administration. About 50 others who were expected to pass today are now scheduled to be released tomorrow, Yassin said. Israeli security forces prevented two others from leaving Gaza. "We intend to continue to get as many people as possible out of Gaza over the next few days," Yassin said. This is the first time ever that people have been crossed through Kerem Shalom, a crossing where the borders of Gaza, Egypt and Israel meet. Advertisement Israel has kept Gaza's border crossings closed since June, when the Islamic militant Hamas seized control of the territory. The closure trapped thousands of Palestinians who work and study abroad, and Israel has been letting them out several hundred at a time. The departure on Sunday at the Erez border crossing from Gaza into Israel was delayed by several dozen Palestinians who blocked the buses and demanded to be let out as well. One of the protesters, Salman Fawaz, 55, said he worked as a construction worker in Saudi Arabia and had been home for a visit when Hamas seized control and the borders closed. His work visa in Saudi Arabia will expire at the end of this month if he can't make it back, he said, but he was not included on the list of those allowed to leave. Fawaz blamed Gaza's Hamas leadership and its rival, the moderate government of President Mahmoud Abbas, which rules the West Bank. "Both are responsible for our suffering," Fawaz said. The protest ended when Palestinian border officials promised that all of the about 5,000 Gazans still waiting to leave would be allowed out within 10 days. "We are pleased to learn that 250 people were [allowed to cross], but this is very minor number of people compared to the general population," said Noga Eitan, spokeswoman for the Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, an Israeli human rights group. "It's possible to have an effective, efficient mechanism that will get the human beings of Gaza and out of the enormous jail they are in." Related articles: Id al-Fitr lost amid Gaza Strip closure Israel allows 75 Palestinians with foreign work permits out of Gaza Bookmark to del.icio.us Muslim about face A key U.K. Muslim group ends its boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day. Calling all Aleppo Jews Yad Ben-Zvi is calling for the return of centuries-old Aleppo Codex fragments.   1.   An answer for Noga Eitan 21:02  |  A Jew 02/12/07   2.   no. one--A Jew 21:19  |  Steve 02/12/07   3.   Gaza not a jail 22:43  |  Roland Nilsson 02/12/07   4.   Steve2,...look at their actions 22:51  |  DUTCH 02/12/07   5.   Let them out 23:50  |  Jay 02/12/07   6.   here we go again 00:50  |  shmuel 03/12/07   7.   no. 4 Dutch 01:16  |  Steve 03/12/07   8.   Steve in MN on "A Jew" 02:00  |  Ramzi, a Palestinian 03/12/07   9.   #2 Steve - you missed the point, as usual 02:11  |  * BEN JABO 03/12/07   10.   To Roland Nilsson 02:12  |  dovale 03/12/07   11.   THANK YOU ROLAND#3 02:42  |  lagunageno 03/12/07   12.   Post #2 - Dehumanizing the Palestinians 03:44  |  DoubleClick 03/12/07   13.   #2 Steve MN 23:04  |  * BEN JABO 03/12/07

Today Online U.S.: Iran halted nuclear weapons work in 2003 Responses: 91 In nod to Abbas, Israel frees another 429 Palestinian prisoners Responses: 172 Akiva Eldar: Avigdor Lieberman's settler friends can relax Responses: 82 Report: Israel's disabled worst off in Western world Responses: 49 Officials: Extraordinary measures used on 17% of Gazan inmates Responses: 47 Rosner's Domain Clinton was for it before he was against it (or vice versa) / WTR The new Jews who actually love their Shabbat services Poll: So, was the Annapolis meeting a success? "Anyone who shows contempt for Bush - not serious person," says Olmert More Headlines 23:37 U.S.: Iran halted nuclear weapons development in 2003 00:55 ANALYSIS: Iran nuke study pulls military option off the table 22:25 Red Cross: Hamas isn't ruling out handing over letter from Shalit 22:02 U.K. Muslim group ends boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day 22:01 Most Arab MKs boycott special Knesset session commemorating partition plan 21:32 In Syria, chief PA negotiator promises to coordinate on peace talks 15:54 Rehavam Ze'evi assassin jailed for two life terms plus 100 years 21:32 PM: High Arab turnout at Annapolis summit was a 'big achievement' 19:11 Ben-Zvi Institute calls for return of Aleppo Codex fragments Previous Editions Select Day 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov 29 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 23 nov 22 nov 21 nov 20 nov

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