Obama welcomes ease of Gaza blockade, urges Israel to expand goods inflow

Why is Obama concerning himself so intimately with another nations policies? I don't see him Trying to insert himself into Germany's foreign affairs, or Mozambique's internal deliberations. What makes him the unelected policy director of Israel?

I live in USA. I wonder why Obama feels the right to tell other countries what to do or how to do it, when he cannot run the USA at all except to borrow more money and put us deeper in debt for his own personal ego, controlling wishes. I support Israels right to defend or protect itself. I do support people getting enough food to live and survive.

This is a classic example of too little too late. The US administration, taking orders from the US congress that blindly and unconditionally supports Israel's numerous crimes and illegal behavior, made a deal with Israel: US will not push for an international probe of the flotilla massacre, in return Israel will ease the absolutely stupid and unnecessary blockade of pencils, toys, spices etc. The problem is that the world will not buy this travesty any longer and is demanding that Israel lift the blockade completely, stop the illegal and immoral settlements and stop acting like a rogue nation.

Where is Obama when it comes to Demanding something from the Arabs?

Two things happened recently that are out of character: 1. Israel lifting the siege after stating that it will continue because it is essential for security, and 2. The US cooperating with Israel in establishing a "commission of inquiry" by Israelis alone (with 2 foreign observers), after publicly supporting an international commission. My suspicion is that these two happenings are related, a "deal". Obama was for lifting the siege even before the flotilla incidents, for humanitarian reasons. Israel saw the light late, but got something for its consent.

with massive numbers of rockets into Israel? Not a pessimist a realist.

Firstly there is an unreasonable blockade- then it is eased to allow food, toys, stationary etc. So why couldn't these have been allowed previously then? Is the World now supposed to commend and praise Israel for this move? If these items were not a security threat- there is no reason they shouldn't have been coming into Gaza all along. That cynical move of blocking all- then relaxing some- then claiming credit for making some action that should have been that way all along is disgusting.

And who will make sure that the rockets stop?

The blockade of the sea is not necessary, so it is unproportional anyway.

This holds true for both the good and the bad...and it's something that the U.S. and others 'should' have been doing for the last 40-plus years. It would certainly benefit everyone if this very simple and pragmatic guideline was utilized by everyone. And the same holds true for ALL nations, by the way.

Why do you Obama not demand from Hamas to sign a peace treaty with Israel ? Can you Obama point to one ,only one instance where supplies and goods were transferred to the enemy in war ,and Israel is at war with Hamas .Why do you Obama not demand from Hamas to release Shalit? You Obama always interfere with the Israeli side but never the Arab side,why?

with tons going in all the time who decides who gets what and how it is distributed? Is it only Hamas, or does the UN still function?

BUT what about Gilad Shalit. All Israel is suffering with him and his family.

And I would call a step in right direction his call to Hamas to stop violence. Not likelly, huh?

Just not fair as Palestinians can use Egypt. Till Gilad Shalit is returned Israel should make no further moves despite international pressure.

that no one has any faith in israels intentions. sad but true... israel will only budge when forced to... the world must pile on the pressure with no let up

Israel has shown it can't be trusted to administer Gaza's borders. if it relaxes the blockade now, it will tighten it again in a few months when it feels like it. Gaza's people must be free to come and go as they please, not be constantly at the whim of the IDF and Israel's government. Suitable searches should still be made to prevent weapons getting in but that's not the priority right now.

You can't expect a total reverse of policy in a single step, but this is a positive change. The people in Gaza will notice the difference. After all the suffering in the last years, finally an improvement of their conditions! And in the next step, a solution for the construction material problem may be possible, too. Really, even as an outspoken critic of the Netanyahu government I have to say this is encouraging. Quite surprising, actually, after all the hardline rhetoric of the last weeks. But, as the UN spokesman rightly said: "We need to judge the Israeli authorities by their deeds, not their words."

Yeah right! - just like in Lebanon, where the UN 'observers' trade cigarettes with Hizbollah, as they watch them building up their rocket arsenal and fortify their positions.

This holds true for both the good and the bad...and it's something that the U.S. and others 'should' have been doing for the last 40-plus years. It would certainly benefit everyone if this very simple and pragmatic guideline was utilized by everyone. And the same holds true for ALL nations, by the way.

welcome the increase of rockets and terror attacks against israel as well?