Israel allows more exports from Gaza in effort to slowly ease blockade
Farmers, private businessmen to be allowed to export goods even if they aren't labeled as 'international projects.'
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news Gaza Hamas PalestiniansIsrael will allow farmers and private businessmen to export goods from Gaza for the first since Hamas took power over the coastal enclave, Army Radio quoted an Israeli defense official as saying on Thursday.
The goods will be allowed to exit Gaza even if they are not labeled as an "international project" – which was previously the sole way such exports were allowed by Israel.
By Sunday, Gaza will be ready to export goods such as peppers, and according to the defense official, Israel will work to continue easing the Gaza blockade slowly.
 |
A truck bearing merchandise at Gaza border. |
| Photo by: Getty Images |
The most recent move was made following a cabinet decision to allow exports from Gaza, and also due to requests made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Two weeks ago, the security cabinet approved to significantly increase exports of goods from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank and abroad.
The exports, which were to occur through the Kerem Shalom crossing point in southern Gaza, were to include three types of goods: furniture, farming products and light industry products.
The exports from Gaza to foreign countries were to be unrestricted, while exports to the West Bank were to be for specific projects in coordination with the Palestinian Authority.
Additionally, PA inspectors were to begin to work in the Keren Shalom crossing, and oversee the collection of import taxes and the export of goods from Gaza to the West Bank, which marked the first return of PA officials to the Gaza Strip since the Hamas takeover in June 2007.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
Ya, that will do a hell of a lot to ease the blockade.
if they want unrestricted exports, why cant they do it through the rafah crossing?
We constantly see these arguments that since Israel left Gaza and didn't get peace, they should stay in the West Bank. But according to this article, Gaza is not freed. In fact, Gazan exports are under the control Israel. Can we now stop seeing these silly arguments about the "Gaza evacuation not resulting in peace" being an excuse to continue the occupation in the West Bank? We'll see, but I imagine that the mindless hasbara will continue despite its lack of logic. It always does...
The Gaza Blockade not only failed to topple Hamas, it has strengthened it. Israel sees Hamas as a military threat, while Palestinians see it as a political party. It will take a good deal of effort to overcome the results of Dahalan's idiotic coup attempt and the loss of Gaza to Abbas's PA. While Hamas has a fairly strong hand when the issue is Israel and Occupation, it has a weak hand when the question is what society Palestinians aspire to have. The question is what society Israel wants the Palestinians to have. They want a free Palestine and Netanyahu wants a puppet under occupation. Hamas sees that as the perfect situation to eventually deliver control of the West Bank to it. Abbas sees that as destroying everything he has tried to achieve. Making Gazan's suffer is helping Hamas and harming Abbas. What does Israel want? Does Israel know?
Hamas is always becoming stronger with the blockade or without it because Hamas is as you said is a political party and it is strongly rooted in the beliefs of the Palestinian people. Israel and PA is in real trouble for a single reason: if Hamas is hit it bocomes stronger and if it is left alone it becomes stronger
still enforce the blockade
What self-respecting country OPENS its border as rockets target its civilians and its citizen is held hostage? We need a Government with a backbone worthy of its People.
Right, and play into the militants' hands. Clamp down on Gaza and make life there more miserable and the locals more hostile to Israel. Some people can't understand that grinding people down isn't always a good idea.
I agree with number 8 when he said : In fact, most of the products that are going o be exported are made in Israeli settlements but the israelis want to put a stamp on it that it is made in Gaza just for marketing purposes. so in reality, Palestinian will not experience any ease
In fact, most of the products that are going o be exported are made in Israeli settlements but the israelis want to put a stamp on it that it is made in Gaza just for marketing purposes. so in reality, Palestinian will not experience any ease
It says these exports are from Gaza. What Israeli businessmen and farmers are exporting from Gaza? What is the basis for your cynicism?
I have been to West Bank and Gaza. You are right. Israel is making use of this blockade and by making such efforts it tries to show the world that it cares about human rights where in facts it just is trying ti use this for marketing its own products
It should have done it long before. That siege is only strengthening Hamas. I know this is what Bibi and Lieberman wants but for Israel, the opposite is a necessity.
No exports should have been allowed until they first export Gilad Shalit.
It should have done it long before. That siege is only strengthening Hamas. I know this is what Bibi and Lieberman wants but for Israel, the opposite is a necessity.
And explains why new elections will soon be here. Netanyahu is following the Olmert/Livni approach of "the more they shell us the more we will give them." The next government will make sure Cast Lead II The Sequel will end this charade
It is really very generous, if Israel is opening the door of the Gaza prison. Israel should be ashamed for the criminal treatement of the Palestinian population. Israel seem to be more specialized for war and occupation than for peace.
Forgot Egypt?
should know about, but carefully ignore at a guess
The Arabs made sure of that from Day 1 and several times thereafter. In any case the high output of Nobel Prizes, highly industrialized products, computer science, and farm goods coming out of Israel suggests they are good at peace too, when given a chance.
whose 51% of shares are owned by the Israeli government and they go to European markets with an Israeli stamp. How very benevolent of the colonialists!
clearly if even their muslim arab neighbors invoke the same reaction the evil zionists do, the problem is with hamas not with israel
somebody is stupid enought to think they are looking for peaceful coexistence. Ms EU Foreign minister wake up
As long as Israel continues to provoke the Palestinian militants, they should not be surprised when the Palestinian militants react to the provocation.
Especially the people in Gaza are only seeking for "existance". Because there is no guarantee for a kid that he won't be killed by an Israeli phosphorous shell before he's 18. That's the problem.
Interesting. 'the Palestinian militants'. For sure, there are virtually no Israeli militants except a few crazies once in awhile, who attack mosques. How does one provoke militants? That is an incredible play on words revealing fundamental stupidity.
it would be easy to guarantee. Return Shalit. Stop firing rockets and mortars into Israel, and stop attacking crossings. Along the way recognize Israel and take off the labels on jackets showing all of the Israel to be part of Palestine.
Palestinians, don't do as Israel does, do as Israel says!
because in reality there is no real effort to ease blockade. what is happening is that israel wants to ease the boycut on its settelemnts products and pretending that they are coming from Gaza. Ask Gazans and see
Shouldn't a good Leftie like you boycott Gazans then ?
Non kosher baloney! The blockade is only recent. The GAz Palestinians have been attacking Israel with rockets, mortars and suicide bombers from Day 1. Blockades are a much more rationale approach in any case.
what is taking place is that Israel itself pretends that the products are from Gaza where in fact the majority of the products are from israeli settlements ...
The Gazans are NOT cooperating. It's totally an Israeli scam.