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Last update - 16:47 29/04/2008
Human rights groups call on Israel to stop limiting fuel to Gaza
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press
Tags: donor nations, Israel 

Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups are calling on Israel to
stop limiting fuel deliveries to Gaza.

The groups say Israel's policy of restricting the amount of fuel Gaza receives has paralyzed the territory and endangered the 1.5 million people there.
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The nine groups issuing the statement Tuesday include the Palestinian legal rights group Al-Haq and the Israeli branch of Physicians for Human Rights.

Israel began restricting supplies to the area when the militant group Hamas seized control there last summer. The blockade has caused shortages of fuel, cement and other basic items in the impoverished territory.

Israel charges Hamas is holding up fuel supplies and causing an artificial crisis.

Israel braces for criticism of Gaza policies from donor nations

Meanwhile, Israel is trying to block what is expected to be a stern condemnation of its policies in the Gaza Strip by the donor nations to the Palestinian Authority, which are scheduled to meet in London Thursday. In view of recent developments in the Gaza Strip, and the killing of civilians, there is concern in official circles in Jerusalem that the criticism will be severe.

In parallel, Israel is faced with a complaint filed several days ago by Egypt to the United Nations Security Council and the members of the Quartet - the United States, the European Union, Russia and the UN - that described a dangerously "explosive situation in the Gaza Strip."

The Egyptian complaint used severe language and emphasized that "a humanitarian crisis exists in the Gaza Strip" and expressed concern that "an explosion in the Gaza Strip would result in a serious escalation in the region."

Based on the information currently available to Israel, the conference will criticize Israel for failure to implement changes on the ground in the West Bank and for taking too few steps to substantially improve the lives of Palestinians.

Two months ago, Haaretz reported that Israel had managed to stave off heavy criticism in Europe, the UN and the U.S. of its policies in the Gaza Strip, which were said to be harming the civilian population and strengthening Hamas.

One of the ways Israel was successful in checking the criticism was by agreeing to indirect exchanges with Hamas for restoring calm through Egyptian mediation.

However, preparatory documents for the donor nations' conference in London suggest that Israel is yet again about to face a barrage of international condemnation. The documents that reached the Foreign Ministry have stirred considerable ire in Israel because they suggest that instead of focusing on collecting pledges of funding to the Palestinian Authority, which will be used for developing institutions in the PA, the conference will mostly concentrate on the siege of the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli official who perused the documents noted that they make nearly no mention of any of the positive steps Israel has taken in the West Bank and mostly focus on the sanctions imposed on the Gaza Strip.

The same source complained that Hamas is not mentioned in the documents as being responsible for the launching of Qassam rocket attacks nor are the recent attacks against the Gaza border crossings that led to the limiting of the amount of fuel and other items transferred to the Strip.

The World Bank is also expected to present a report that blames Israel for restrictions that limit Palestinian movement and economic activity, making the $7.7 billion pledged in aid ineffective. The report will also blame Israel for causing paralysis to 96 percent of industrial activity in the Gaza Strip.

The conference of donor nations will open in London on Thursday at the foreign ministers level. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni will represent Israel at the conference.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the way funds pledged at the previous conference, in late 2007 in Paris, have been used. On the sidelines, senior Quartet representatives are also scheduled to meet, including U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The Quartet is scheduled to discuss progress since the Annapolis summit in November 2007, the situation in the Strip, and the holding of yet another peace summit in Moscow this summer.

Senior Israeli officials expressed anger that Norway, which chairs the forum of donor nations - officially known as the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee - and Britain have diverted the focus of the conference to dealing with the Gaza Strip, instead of remaining focused on the effort to build institutions of governance in the West Bank.

Initially, Israel considered boycotting the conference as a protest, but it was decided instead to embark on a broad diplomatic effort to contain the criticism of the international community, and try to establish a more balanced picture of the situation.

The Quartet's special envoy, former British prime minister Tony Blair, who will also attend the conference, has been busy with a new package of measures that may ease the restrictions on the Palestinians in the West Bank. The package includes the further removal of roadblocks, granting passes for passage, etc.

Several weeks ago Blair presented the foreign and defense ministries with a series of recommendations for ways of improving the lives of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.

Related articles:
  • Shmuel Rosner / What will the Palestinians do with all that money?
  • Palestinian PM seeks $120m a month from donors
  • Blair set to reveal projects for boosting Palestinian employment
  • Israel agrees to lift key West Bank roadblock upon request from Blair
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      1.   EU`s gas money being stolen by the bully 05:25  |  Jon 29/04/08
      2.   "humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip" 05:58  |  Silvienne 29/04/08
      3.   Critism may only be directed at those perpetrating terror in the 06:18  |  Albert 29/04/08
      4.   Problem with Europe: They try hard to accept terrorism 06:30  |  European German 29/04/08
      5.   gaza hothouses 06:38  |  DOV KORET 29/04/08
      6.   Antisemitical Correctness is Glatt Treif. 06:48  |  Fortuna Benmayor 29/04/08
      7.   Maybe I Missed All the Articles 07:08  |  Mark of Lewiston 29/04/08
      8.   the cause of the explosive situation in gaza... 07:09  |  saul a. readner 29/04/08
      9.   idiotic nations 07:55  |  real vision 29/04/08
      10.   Just how dumb are these donor nations? 08:02  |  Joe Sittizen 29/04/08
      11.   No nation should be supporting the war mongers in Israel 08:18  |  Dutch 29/04/08
      12.   A rational solution. 08:50  |  Jean Van Daem 29/04/08
      13.   Of Course Israel gets the blame from Donors... 08:57  |  Dagma 29/04/08
      14.   To ALBERT # 3 - WHO should act defensively? 09:10  |  Dolly 29/04/08
      15.   The Real Crisis In Gaza Is Academic, Stupid Leaders On DailyDiet 09:30  |  Lavi 29/04/08
      16.   Israel has become a shameful nation ... 09:46  |  Dutch 29/04/08
      17.   Hamas is responsible for gaza 09:54  |  Daniel 29/04/08
      18.   To Jean Van Daem # 6 - The ONLY Rational Solution 09:56  |  The Threadmill 29/04/08
      19.   Am I Getting it Right Egypt is Complaining for the Gazan People 09:58  |  Gil 29/04/08
      20.   Israel needs to lay down the law to the "donor nations" 09:59  |  Dr. L. Brnd 29/04/08
      21.   Am I Getting it Right Egypt is Complaining for the Gazan People 10:02  |  Gil 29/04/08
      22.   Am I Getting it Right Egypt is Complaining for the Gazan People 10:17  |  Gil 29/04/08
      23.   Haarez what is this Error 500 in the server 10:19  |  Zzzzz 29/04/08
      24.   To #2, Silvienne 10:50  |  Lev 29/04/08
      25.   #15 Lavi 10:51  |  Lev 29/04/08
      26.   Their not as dumb as you Joe. No10 11:15  |  Sean 29/04/08
      27.   To Silvienne # 2 - Bracing for Criticism.... 11:15  |  Dolly 29/04/08
      28.   israel should be expelled from the UN! 11:20  |  lakshmi 29/04/08
      29.   And you, lakwit... 11:44  |  Linichka 29/04/08
      30.   How could the Opressed become an Opressor 12:19  |  Molveees 29/04/08
      31.   Too little too late 12:25  |  Sylvie 29/04/08
      32.   #28 Lakshmi and the UN 12:34  |  H 29/04/08
      33.   I think Manchester United 12:37  |  Chris Linthwaite 29/04/08
      34.   # 20 "Dr." brnd ... 13:46  |  Axel 29/04/08
      35.   Steps? What steps? 13:53  |  Axel 29/04/08
      36.   These are donor nations to Israel`s enemy and not to Israel 13:59  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 29/04/08
      37.   Not a chance, Israel simply dont give a damn. 14:23  |  El-Birawi 29/04/08
      38.   # 27 dolly 14:48  |  Axel 29/04/08
      39.   32 H, true there is corruption in the UN as elsewhere,but 15:01  |  lakshmi 29/04/08
      40.   #2 Salivi... 15:45  |  John Allen 29/04/08
      41.   #28 Laksimi, I agree with you. 15:58  |  John Allen 29/04/08
      42.   To Mark of Lewiston # 7 - Why talk of Construction NOW??? 15:59  |  dingo dog 29/04/08
      43.   #34 Axel in Germany 16:07  |  John Allen, 29/04/08
      44.   #39 Lakshimi 16:11  |  John Allen, 29/04/08
      45.   #28 Lakshimi, you`ve got me on a roll 16:17  |  John Allen 29/04/08
      46.   To Lev # 24 - It is all paid for with OIL MONEY 16:17  |  Natasha 29/04/08
      47.   axel, no. 38 16:20  |  saul a. readner 29/04/08
      48.   You know that Israel not unlike all Jews are scapegoats 16:24  |  Robert/Montreal 29/04/08
      49.   You know Dutch you criticise very well #11#16 16:31  |  Robert/Montreal 29/04/08
      50.   #27 Dolly they always forget, it is convenient 16:39  |  Robert/Montreal 29/04/08
      51.   I think the Montreal Canadians will take the Cup #33 16:45  |  Robert/Montreal 29/04/08
      52.   zionists like John Allen&Robert of Montreal,in a bizarre way you 16:46  |  lakshmi 29/04/08
      53.   # 43 john 16:51  |  Axel 29/04/08
      54.   To Axel # 38 - I would lay my bet on the `innocent Jews` 16:53  |  Dolly 29/04/08
      55.   # 50 robert 16:57  |  Axel 29/04/08
      56.   # 29 Linichka of Poland 17:03  |  Lynn 29/04/08
      57.   # 55 dolly just two remarks 17:21  |  Axel 29/04/08
      58.   #2, Lev...yes, of course... 18:05  |  Silvienne 29/04/08
      59.   #2, Lev...yes, of course... 18:05  |  Silvienne 29/04/08
      60.   # 39 lakshmi...then go blog somewhere else 18:07  |  Lynn 29/04/08
      61.   #27, Dolly... 18:09  |  Silvienne 29/04/08
      62.   Human Rights must not have heard about tunnels 18:12  |  Lynn 29/04/08
      63.   # 2 Silvienne...Islamofascists like Hamas 18:15  |  Lynn 29/04/08
      64.   #40, John Allen... 18:16  |  Silvienne 29/04/08
      65.   #5 DOV KORET 18:20  |  Boycott 29/04/08
      66.   #54 Dolly`s fictional history 18:27  |  Boycott 29/04/08
      67.   Invite the whole groupd for a meeting...in Sderot. 18:29  |  JP 29/04/08
      68.   human rights 18:34  |  steve 29/04/08
      69.   Don`t you mean "Murderers` Rights Groups?" 18:37  |  IW 29/04/08
      70.   # 66 Boykott - your history is correct 18:46  |  17 29/04/08
      71.   # 70 19:03  |  Axel 29/04/08
      72.   I call upon Human Rights groups 19:05  |  Gerg 29/04/08
      73.   Perhaps These HR Groups Would Like To Ensure The Delivery of Fuel 19:18  |  Lavi 29/04/08
      74.   # 66 boykott 19:23  |  Lynn 29/04/08
      75.   Gas deliveries 19:37  |  Michael 29/04/08
      76.   # 71 Correct - both our statements are correct. 19:37  |  17 29/04/08
      77.   #63, Lynn... 19:38  |  Silvienne 29/04/08
      78.   What makes these groups "Human Rights" groups? 19:46  |  McQueen 29/04/08
      79.   #74 Lynn 20:00  |  Boycott 29/04/08
      80.   #70 for 17 20:09  |  Boycott 29/04/08
      81.   Human Rights Group 20:10  |  Fredy Ross 29/04/08
      82.   42 Dingo Dog - West Bank Palestinian Construction 20:14  |  Mark of Lewiston 29/04/08
      83.   # 77 Silvienne..actually I believe the term was coined 20:48  |  Lynn 29/04/08
      84.   #79 Boycott..yes, it was partitioned to the 20:51  |  Lynn 29/04/08
      85.   #28 lakshmi 20:52  |  Marc 29/04/08
      86.   # 80 Boycott - "it does depend on how far back you go". 21:02  |  17 29/04/08
      87.   fuel to Gaza 21:24  |  Matt M. 29/04/08
      88.   # 74 lynn 21:37  |  Axel 29/04/08
      89.   # 85 marc 21:45  |  Axel 29/04/08
      90.   # 80 Boycott - "it does depend on how far back you go". 22:21  |  17 - second attempt 29/04/08
      91.   Yesterday`s story a la writethru with relede 22:25  |  Joe Sittizen 29/04/08
      92.   These Immoral Diplomats should protest Rocket Attacks at Israel 22:26  |  EgyptJewRefugee 29/04/08
      93.   #77 Bush is the best US President 22:28  |  semsem 29/04/08
      94.   # 86 17 23:09  |  Axel 29/04/08
      95.   # 90 17 23:13  |  Axel 29/04/08
      96.   # 88 Axel....it was mandated 23:16  |  Lynn 29/04/08
      97.   Send it through Egypt/Hamas controlled Rafah 23:44  |  PETER SM 29/04/08
      98.   #26 Sean 23:46  |  MaryRose 29/04/08
      99.   With all of the care the UN is NOT showing 23:52  |  MaryRose 29/04/08
      100.   93 Semsen - Friends don`t let Friends Drive Drunk 23:57  |  Mark of Lewiston 29/04/08
      101.   RE #39 UN upholding International Law? 00:08  |  MaryRose 30/04/08
      102.   Lynn, the Palestinians know the situation much better than you. 00:08  |  Ibrahim 30/04/08
      103.   Palestinians as inhabitants of Palestine 00:09  |  Axel 30/04/08
      104.   #48 Robert Yes, the Israelis saved her twins 00:13  |  MaryRose 30/04/08
      105.   Axel 00:33  |  Marc 30/04/08
      106.   European Blindness , Dutch #11 01:25  |  Jean 30/04/08
      107.   # 96 lynn 13:31  |  Axel 30/04/08
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