Erekat slams Israeli 'claim' of relaxed Gaza siege

Published today 13:15 Bethlehem - Ma'an -

Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erakat called the Israeli occupation government cabinet decision to ease Gaza restrictions "not sufficient," in a statement released moments after the decision was announced.

"With this decision, Israel attempts to make it appear that it has eased its four-year blockade and its even longer-standing access and movement restrictions imposed on the population of Gaza. In reality, the siege of the Gaza Strip, illegally imposed on Palestinians continues unabated," the statement read.

Reports indicated that the Israeli occupation government had decided to change the "method" of the siege, in an apparent attempt to allow aid and goods to reach more civilians. The decision reflects changes made already in the two weeks between the decision and Israel's attack on a flotilla of aid ships that resulted in the death of at least nine passengers and sparked the international call for an end to the closure.

Over the two weeks, however, UN officials noted an increase in the variety of goods permitted into Gaza, but an overall decrease in the amount of goods delivered. Residents and Hamas officials called the sudden okay for the delivery of mayonnaise "a joke," while INGOs called for Israel to allow unlimited reconstruction goods and factory supplies into the Strip, in an effort to ensure the economy does not totally collapse. Exports, reports from the ICRC and Oxfam said, would be essential.

"Israel has used a so-called 'white list' of only 114 items allowed into the Gaza Strip. Palestinian basic needs require at least 8,000 basic items that continue to be prohibited. These include essential materials for rebuilding and for waste-water treatment for the most basic living standards," Erekat said.

The official, who will meet with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell on Friday, called on the international community "to take immediate and effective actions to conclusively end the siege on the Gaza Strip, and end the occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip."

He concluded, "Either Israel lifts the siege completely or it continues to violate international law and basic morality."

Israel To Ease Some Restrictions On Goods To Gaza

Thursday June 17, 2010 13:09 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Israeli occupation government so-called ministerial cabinet decided on Thursday morning to ease some of the restrictions its enforces on the entry of goods and supplies into the besieged coastal region.

The cabinet issues a statement announcing that the government decided to expand the list of goods and products that are allowed into the Gaza Strip to include some essential materials that could be used to implement projects of a civilian nature under international supervision.

The decision came following Israeli talks and agreement with Quartet envoy, Tony Blair, who asked Israel to ease the siege by allowing some goods and supplies into the coastal region.

But easing the restrictions would only allow certain goods into Gaza without lifting the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip as Israel never recognized the democratically elected government of Hamas.

The new Israeli decision would allow the entry of some 120 types of goods and products that Israel embargoed after claiming that such goods could be used for military purposes.

Furthermore, Israel is expected to grant the UNRWA a green line to implement some projects and reconstruct schools and public building that were bombarded by the Israeli army during the war.

Visiting the region, U.S Middle East Envoy, George Mitchell plans a number of meeting with Israeli officials Thursday, in addition to holding meetings with Palestinian officials on Friday and Egyptian officials Saturday.

Israeli cabinet eases some Gaza restrictions

Published today 12:59 Bethlehem - Ma'an/Agencies -

The  Israeli occupation government so-called, National Security Cabinet, decided to ease a number of restrictions imposed on goods entering the Gaza Strip, officials said following the meeting on Thursday.

The move was swiftly slammed by Hamas, whose members called it an attempt to "mislead" the public, assuring that the Gaza Strip would remain under siege.

Under the plan, the port would remain closed, the naval blockade would continue, the Eerez crossing would close and Israel would continue controlling the 300-meter wide "no go zone" that amount to some 67 square kilometers of the tiny Gaza Strip.

A statement was issued by Israel's National Information Directorate, saying that the "method" of the siege would be changed in order to allow more civilian goods into Gaza.

The announcement follows promises by Quartet envoy Tony Blair, who told reporters last week that Israel would soon issue a list of banned goods, rather than the current policy that includes a secret list and an ad hoc policy that kept Gazans and aid workers guessing as to what might be allowed in. Cardamon and jam were among the previously banned goods.

The statement said that, over the increase in the variety of goods that would be permitted in to Gaza, crossings officials would "expand the inflow of controlled materials for civilian projects and maintain the existing security measures in order to prevent the entry of weapons," Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth news site said.

Blair told BBC’s Today Programme that the EU would participate in the monitoring of aid, in order to allow more goods to reach more civilian beneficiaries who still need to repair their homes following their destruction by Israeli attacks during the last war on Gaza in the winter of 2008/9.

The EU would also be involved in the Rafah crossing, to help ensure it stayed open, Blair said, hinting that the PA would also assist in the endeavor.

The paper also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had in instructed his transportation minister to ensure the crossings could handle the increased goods. Since 2007, two crossings were closed permanently, including the fuel transfer station, the infrastructure from which was moved to the southernmost Kerem Shalom crossing. The bulk goods crossing, where conveyor belts move large amounts of supplies into the Strip, may also need updating following claims that bands were broken in 2009.

Erez to close?

According to Yedioth, the plan of the transportation minister will also include the closure of the Erez pedestrian crossing for Gaza residents. The site said civilians would be directed to the newly opened Rafah crossing with Egypt, " removing Israel's responsibility on the land and later on other routes in the air and sea in order to prevent international pressure. Israel will maintain the right to conduct security measures in order to prevent the smuggling of weapons."

No exports

The decision did not address key concerns raised by reports from the ICRC and Oxfam recently, which said dependence on international aid in Gaza was only plunging the economy into deeper straits.

According to reports, the cabinet decision did not include allowing exports from Gaza, nor would it put an end to the naval blockade of Gaza.

"Israel has allowed in an increased number of food items such as coriander, jam, biscuits and other sweets. While this is certainly welcomed, what Gaza needs most are jobs, raw materials for reconstruction and for industry, and the ability to export – not just short-term aid and consumer products like jam that, without a job, they can’t afford to buy,” Executive Director of Oxfam International Jeremy Hobbs said in a statement about the organization's report.

While the ICRC released a strongly worded statement, saying the "dire situation in Gaza cannot be resolved by providing humanitarian aid," and calling Israel's policy of siege "a collective punishment imposed in clear violation of Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law."

The Gazan economy "will continue to unravel unless the blockade is completely and immediately lifted," Oxfam said, calling on members of the Middle East Quartet, including EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday, to "pressure Israel to fully and immediately lift the blockade by opening all crossings, allowing trade to resume and people to circulate." A call firmly backed by the ICRC.