Israel to ease Gaza land blockade

This same story (published by AP via Yahoo) has nearly 21,500 comments...think of how many of those people are being misled...and how many more they mislead by sharing misinformation... :-( Israel agrees to ease Gaza land blockade http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100617/ap_on_re_mi_ea/gaza_blockade MEDIA SPIN 101: Everything is not necessarily as reported... PMO ANNOUNCES PLAN TO EASE GAZA SIEGE, BUT NO SUCH DECISION MADE http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-de...fense/pmo-announces-plan-to-ease-gaza-siege-but-no-such-decision-made-1.296809 Two official statements came out of the Prime Minister's Office in regard to the security cabinet meeting – one in Hebrew for the Israeli media and another in English for the foreign media and foreign diplomats. The English version said that "It was agreed to liberalize the system by which civilian goods enter Gaza [and] expand the inflow of materials for civilian projects that are under international supervision." The Hebrew version addressed mainly remarks made by Netanyahu, but failed to mention any decision or agreement.

Since Hamas' response to this will make Pakistani war-criminals' response to India's gracious 1973 release of them (see Siddiq Salik's 1976 twaddle-tome "Witness To Surrender" for proof--that tout shilled more about how India was threat to his failed nation, despite of proof otherwise, including his being released without trial) seem like a high-gratitude! (btw, justice did catch up with Salik--he was blown-up 1988/08/17 along with his boss Zia ul-Haq, by another war-criminal Aslam Beg)

However, it has already been reported on the television news that Hamas have totally rejected this and want a whole lot more. ... It does not meet with their requirements. The more you give the Gazans the more they will want.. So stop giving in altogether......it/s best with this type.

... so that the Gazans can have food, toys, stationery, kitchen utensils, mattresses and towels.

really really ı dont believe israel

Someone has been letting the strategy monkey do the talking again, this isn't going to work for anyone. Israel needs to truly "disengage" from Gaza is the most literal sense. As long as Israel blocks of Gaza's sea lanes, and the Egyptian frontier, it is still enmeshed in the internal situation, frustrating any efforts towards as a final settlement. The better solution is to open up Rafah crossing and the seaport under a fully autonomous UN oversight, with an UN approved arms embargo. That way Gaza can develop it's economy independent of Israel and the situation internally can begin to normalise, and the checkpoints issue can be depoliticised. The Israeli border should be closed to all traffic except for a guranteed safe passage corridor to the West Bank, which should likewise be under UN control. At the same time, Israel has to talk to Hamas. Ignoring the elephant in the room is not an option. They have signalled clearly that if good faith, completely serious talk are possible concerning a two state solution, they are willing to be at the table. Anything that happens until those talk happen is just treating the symptoms but ignoring the illness.

I received an e-mail stating the commander of the commando unit that boarded the flotilla on May, 31, was stabbed and seriously wounded. I passed the letter on and it's truthfulness is now being questioned. Will someone who knows please e-mail me as to whether the letter was fact or fiction.

The fact of the matter is that there has to be a way to rebuild gaza, only animals would let a people sleep outside and in tents because they fear homemade missile - it is akin to saying, the international bankers are sucking the blood of Europe - if it is we or they who must die to survive, then lets kill the bankers for the sake of our europe, of our america. sick.

Israel by not travelling there. If there is one thing that Israel does understand very well is money. I have refused to go to an academic conference in Tel Aviv recently. I will not spend a dime on a state that oppresses innocent people by witholding foods, meds and toys for kids. We should all blockade Israel economically by not travelling there, by not buying any goods that come from there, and by spreading the word. Only then will this world bully submit to international laws and behavior. I love the Jewish people. And I despise their government.

Members of the Commission are: Retired Justice Turkel, 75, A. Horev, 86, and S. Rosen, 93(!). Using ancient people has an advantage, of course, They have a clear record of defending Israel in past years, and are not expected to learn "new tricks" at their present age. On the other hand, they may be very well aware of the need and uses of wheel-chairs and DIAPERS! What if they take a grim view of the Gaza siege because of these items and consider the dead Turks who were trying to bring wheel chairs to Gaza as real martyrs? If I were Netanyahu, I would have taken this into account! And he had a clue, because the common Yiddish term for the people he appointed is "alte kakkers", to say nothing about the fact that Netanyahu's father is 100 years old and a definite member of that club. It would have been safer to pick commission members in the range of 75-80/82, certainly not older than 85!

Originally, the "siege" policy was motivated as the means to make the Gaza population unhappy with Hamas rule and induce them to overthrow it. It didn't work, and actually should not have been expected to work because historically, Arab masses do not overthrow rulers, Arab militaries do that, but in Gaza Hamas IS the military. The policy failed to achieve its goal, but was continued nevertheless under changing explanations (today it is the Shalit excuse). Only after the "flotilla" debacle is the policy changing. How much damage can a pointless, visibly failed policy cause? 1. For the present "flotilla" incident, read the various articles, and consider in addition that the UN may become more inclined to send the Goldstone Report to the Hague. Also, the governing Islamic party in Turkey might have found the excuse to break relations with Israel, which it avoided doing for fear of the Turkish military. The Turkish military might now be convinced that this has to be done. 2. Operation Cast Lead (late 2008) was caused by the pointless "siege" policy. Hamas offered to continue the then prevailing cease fire provided that Israel lifts the siege. Israel refused. Result: Abbas had to stop peace negotiations with Israel. Olmert said he was very close to a deal with the PA, but then Cast Lead "happened". No, idiot, it didn't just happen, Olmert preferred the "siege" over a peace deal. Such an incredible choice should go into the history books!

The harsh boycott of Gaza was a spite campaign to punish the Gazans for electing Hamas. After three years with no sign of success, the world has had enough and has forced Israel to relent. In a similar fashion, after Turkey canceled scheduled naval maneuvers with Israel, Israel then scheduled the maneuvers with Greece, Turkeys great rival. After the Israeli naval commando fiasco, Greece canceled the maneuvers. Turkey gets the last laugh again and Israel needs to work on their spite strategies. They are great when they work, but make one look a fool and a weakling when they do not.

The equation is simple - allow more materials to Gaza and they will build more bunkers, smuggle more rockets and weapons. Then they will start using this weapons on us , then we will retaliate with another Cast Lead. We've been there before and know this game very well. The bottom line is very simple - once again the european "peacemakers" brought a war on the heads of israeli and palestinian people. Good job guys, as always !

Last week, you (Israel) allowed Gazans to have cookie and potato chips (although these snack foods pose security risks to Israel :)). Now, you are offering them even more stuff. Thanks Israel for being the most moral occupier with, as Ashkenazi said after the Gaza massacre (called "war" by the ill-informed or deceptive) of last year, the "most moral army."

when children starve,don't get clothes,lives under sky,no question of education. They ask ''who is doing this to us?'' they get the only answer. Then is Hamas getting weaker or stronger? Will IDF be enough for destroying all of them ? Or some love and affection is the tool. Idon't know.But those should know whose children will ask ten years later " Mom, why Gazans wants to harm us "

There will be more flotillas because this is mere window dressing, typical of the innane Israeli leadership, attempting to pull the wool over the international community's eyes but failing miserably. It is clear that freedom of movement of people is still fully restricted, import of raw materials to restarted Gaza's crippled economy still denied, etc. Consequently the nature if the siege is still clearly collective punishment and any claim of security consideration cannot stand critical scrutiny.

Israel has to totally lift the blockade. Any thing else is just plain PR.

Obama - born muslim - has to do, what's expected of him. Otherwise islamists will shorten his presidency.

Good work activists ...

Why? Gaza has free access through Egypt. First Gilad Shalit should be home with his parents before any changes. Palestinians are suffering because of Hamas, not Israel. Anyway the UN is useless and didn't stop Hamas from pilfering deliveries before.

Eliminating the collective punishment of Gazans is a good idea. Ensuring weapons are not smuggled is essential and should continue. We will have to wait and see if this is an actual policy change, or just smoke and mirrors. If it is a real change it will help ease the crisis created by Bibi's Flotilla Folly.

This confirms the illegal blockade who is intention is not to weaken Hamas (democratically elected government), but to kill palestinians.

this move does change nothing. This month israel will ease the import of some goods.., next month these imports were forbidden again and blockade continues. The move has the objective to fool the international community.

when the rockets start flying agian we israelis reserve the right to raze gaza to the ground. i have noticed that any pro israeli comment gets booed on this site. Why? Haaretz should move to europe

To get down on our knees to be shot in the back from these terrorists? Will that make you happy? No matter what Israel does, people like you will condemn Israel even when Israel it it is the victim.

The blockade is illegal and must end. Easing is not enough. It's just tinkering on Israel's part. The ships will keep coming... as they should.

I wonder why these goods were prohibited of entry until now. If they did not represent a threat, how can one justify it ? If the reason was not of security nature, did the blockade help reaching the goal ? Shalit is not free, the Hamas charter is still sullied with antisemitism, peace is not nearer.

Israel could have used the opportunity of the flotilla for a huge PR coup, seeing that the blockade was/is doomed to failure anyway. It could have asked politely to board the ships to inspect the wares, and then allowed it to land in Gaza, while at the same time lightening the restrictions by land. The UN could still have been asked to supervise the use of cement, etc. and Israel would not have painted itself in a corner, plus it would have kept the respect of many nations and possibly a better standing with the Turks. Israel does need friends. It is such a pity that the politicians seem incapable of common sense.

Israel could have used the opportunity of the flotilla for a huge PR coup, seeing that the blockade was/is doomed to failure anyway. It could have asked politely to board the ships to inspect the wares, and then allowed it to land in Gaza, while at the same time lightening the restrictions by land. The UN could still have been asked to supervise the use of cement, etc. and Israel would not have painted itself in a corner, plus it would have kept the respect of many nations and possibly a better standing with the Turks. Israel does need friends. It is such a pity that the politicians seem incapable of common sense.

They've won once again.

In the real world is just another very small extension of the old evil scheme, thus it is too little and too late. As one wise man said long ago "Do the right thing because it is the right thing to do!" There is no choice really in the real world of reality and nor can they run away and hide from the inconvenient truths either! No matter how hard they try to justify even with religion as a crutch that which is and will always remain wrong and evil .

if you have weopon why not hamas dont have it, if you many times screemd we have left Gaza, WHAT A MESS. LET THEM HAVE WHAT DO THEY WANT AS THEY ARE LIBERATED area as you claim??????

...benefits for Israel: (1) It WOULD enable the government to clearly define its rationale for what was and wasn't on it--and (2) it would NOT allow individual bureaucrats to make personal (and possibly bone-headed) decisions that might reflect poorly on the country. (Then again....)

does the new list of allowed items include toys, pencils. musical instruments and other 'security threatening' items? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfEmA4tUNVc I wonder how the israeli regime really functions.

this a great thing. the blockade should stand until Hamas stops sending rockets into Israel or maybe renounces violence for once. it just doesnt make sense to not have a blockade on a place that wants to destroy you

Maintaining the blockade=more flotillas to come=devastating effects for Israel's ego and image abroad

While the security cabinet's decision on the easing of the blockade is the right move, and laudable, the exclusion of construction materials is unacceptable. Gaza people still can't repair much of the damage from the last war, and matresses and towels won't help them with that! And that Hamas MAY confiscate some of the cement to build new bunkers is not a convincing reason to simply blockade this. After all, Hamas can get their cement though the tunnels, too, and Israel has bunker buster bombs able to destroy any fortification that may be build on the Gaza side. And then, bunkers don't kill soldiers, weapons do. It's the arms and ammunitions that have to be blocked, construction stuff is of no use in terrorism and not a threat. So, a good first step at normalizing the conditions in Gaza, but let's hope it won't be the only one. And let's not forget that nine people have to give their life to achieve that. Why does there always have to be a tragedy first before reason prevails?

Are palestinians suppose to applaude and thank israelis for their generosity and understanding ? i bet israelis take that as a concession...just like dismantling settlements in Gaza and building double in the WB ? What crookery ! FYI : palestinians are still under occupation.

If Israel can ease the blockade now why did they not do it earlier. Do they not care about world opinion and losing Turkey as an ally? Now they have the Haredi opposition too!

If Israel yhink only for a moment to acquire some sympathy from abroad, better think twice. Only a 100% lift of blockade will attract world consensus. As per Shalit Israel must still free palestinians prisoners. 100s of children and wimen.

So they eat shite but not build homes? I appreciate that cement can be used for other purposes BUT surely Hama couldn't get away with syphoning cement for building rocket launch pads or bunkers when there are so many people needing it for their own homes?

But what about gilad Shalit

Does this include Ketchup and Mayonaise? Are they gonna allow it to enter? to the addition to PASTA. These products are considered threat to Israel's security. Isn't this what they used to say? How come they are not anymore?

Hamas "won a Palestinian legislative election in 2006. Restrictions were tightened after Hamas seized power in Gaza the following year." Firstly, the claim that the blockade is to prevent arms entering Gaza doesn't stack up against Israeli minister's stated aim of putting "them on a diet". Secondly, Hamas only "seized power in Gaza" after a failed coup attempt by Fatah's Dahlan was pre-empted (an attempted coup backed by Israel and the US); http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804

i won't hold my breath for the blockade to be "eased"

UN will import cement? Is this the same UN that allowed Hamas to steal MTs of wheat flour from their warehouse without even blinking with an eye?

the list of only few tens of allowed materials as a "tit for tat for Shalit" could not have been perceived outside anyhow differently than collective punishment and was compromising Israel's case in war against Hamas and jihad in general. Such a list should never have come into realization. Not it's too little too late. But maintaining naval blockade against smuggling is fair.

Ok, good start but not enough! Gazan's must be able to import and export in order to re-enter the lands of the living and start to make a living. Just allowing in more Israeli-produce that they can purchase with their non-existent incomes is not enough. Seems like this solution is perpetuating the occupation and dependence on international aid to meet the needs of the population. NOT SUSTAINABLE!