Israeli Brutal Blockade of Gaza Enters Fourth Year, With Netanyahu Deceptive Statements, Indifferent World Governments 

Blockade enters fourth year; crossings closed

Published today (updated) 18/06/2010 13:13

Bethlehem - Ma'an -

As the brutal Israeli occupation government's blockade of the Gaza Strip entered its fourth year last week, imports declined even amid a claim of Israeli cabinet decision to 'liberalize' the siege announced on Thursday.

Crossings were closed on Friday, in keeping with Israel's siege policy since August 2009, before which crossings opened six days a week. Crossings liaison official Raed Fattouh said the terminals were expected to open again on Sunday, following the scheduled closure for the Israeli weekend.

UN officials called Israel's decision to adjust its siege policy welcomed, but a UN report from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, noted that the "[a] dditional steps needed to implement the aforementioned decision have yet to be defined," leaving some skeptical over the actual change that will be wrought by the adjustments.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement on Thursday, saying he "hopes Israel’s announcement that it will ease the blockade on the Gaza Strip to allow more civilian goods to enter the territory will lead to an improvement in the lives of the 1.5 million Palestinians living there."

A weekly Protection of Civilians report released by the UN noted that imports remained low with a total of 573 trucks entering Gaza last week, amounting to some 20% of pre-siege imports.

Sewing thread and ketchup were permitted into Gaza for the first time in four years during the week, however, with two truckloads of the tomato product, and another two load of thread entered the Strip. Food and hygiene products made up 83% of imports, however.

Limited construction materials continued to enter last week, OCHA recorded, with glass, aluminum and wood, entering for the UNRWA construction project of 151 housing units in Khan Younis. The material made up a small portion of goods entering Gaza, a total of eight truckloads of gravel and another two of cement.

No exports

Zero truckloads of exports left Gaza, and Israel's adjustment to the siege did not include an opening of Gaza to the international marketplace.

On the fourth anniversary of the siege, OCHA noted that it "continues to undermine livelihoods and to prevent major reconstruction of houses and infrastructure."

Palestinians divided on blockade changes

Published today (updated) 18/06/2010 13:27 In March 2010

 Gaza - Ma'an -

Palestinian analysts disagreed with officials on Thursday, over the issue of the Israeli occupation government decision to change the methods by which the siege on Gaza was implemented, apparently to allow in a greater number of goods including construction materials.

While officials in the PA, the Quartet and the UN all welcomed the announcement, analysts said the decision was "an announcement that the siege will continue," and neither side saw the move as a real solution.

The Thursday cabinet meeting, deliberating as the siege entered its fourth year, announced that an increased amount of goods would enter Gaza, including construction materials, under an EU/UN-backed plan to monitor the goods and make sure they are channeled into civilian reconstruction projects and not into the construction of "bunkers or weapons."

Crossings liaison official Raed Fattouh, who has closely monitored the goods coming into Gaza over the past four years, said he believed the increased goods would give local businesses a boost, and help stabilize the Gaza economy.

So far, he said, "there are 120 goods out of the 4,000 requested by Gaza residents and aid agencies that are allowed into the Strip."

Ministry of the Economy official Naser Al-Sarraj said that already, “the Israeli side informed that stationary, kitchen ware, kids toys, mattresses, towels and long list of food stuffs would be permitted into Gaza." He said he was encouraged by the new items.

Analysts disagree

Writer and analyst Akram Atallah called the announcement a sign that Israel will "allow some 200 new types goods into Gaza over top of the 67 old ones, hardly putting a dent in the 4,000 some odd things needed."

Akram described the move as an "Israeli attempt to absorb world public opinion that has recently escalated against them, they are trying to gain power and international approval."

There is a difference between popular and international approval however, Akram noted, explaining that it was popular sentiment that drove the international community to act, and if the popular voice is not satisfied, neither will the international leaders be.

"There is nothing new in the Israeli decision, except that is a formal announcement that the siege will continue under international sponsorship this time, represented by [Quartet Envoy] Tony Blair, who suggested the mechanisms," Akram said.

Writer and analyst Mustafa Al-Sawaf agreed, saying the move was an attempt to "beautify the siege by allowing [into Gaza] some materials that are not that important."

Al-Sawaf added that whether or not mayn=mayonnaise, allowed into Gaza for the first time last week, was permitted for import, "regardless the siege is illegal.”