[[{"content_id":"21387","domain_id":"0","lang_id":"en","portal_id":"2","owner_id":"29","user_id":"1","view_accesslevel_id":"0","edit_accesslevel_id":"0","delete_accesslevel_id":"0","editor_id":"0","content_title":"Easing Gaza's Siege: Bogus and Unacceptable - by Stephen Lendman","content_number":"0","content_date_event":"2010-06-19 14:23:00","content_summary":"","content_summary_fill":"0","content_body":"On June 17, Haaretz writer Barak Ravid and Reuters headlined, "Israel to ease Gaza land blockade," saying:\r\n"Israel's security cabinet voted Thursday to ease its land  blockade of the Gaza Strip, following its deadly raid on a humanitarian aid flotilla bound for the (mischaracterized) Hamas-ruled territory," in fact, its legitimate government.\r\nAn official statement said:\r\n"The Security Cabinet conducted an extensive discussion over the last two days regarding adjustments in Israel's Gaza policy.\r\nIt was agreed to:\r\n-- Liberalize the system by which civilian goods enter Gaza.\r\n-- Expand the inflow of materials for civilian projects that are under international supervision.\r\n-- Continue existing security procedures to prevent the inflow of weapons and war materiel.\r\n-- the Cabinet will decide in the coming days on additional steps to implement this policy.\r\n-- Israel expects the international community to work toward the immediate release of Gilad Shalit," the captured Israeli soldier on June 25, 2006 near the Kerem Shalom crossing, southeast of Rafah - one soldier compared to thousands of Palestinian civilians, held illegally in Israeli prisons under horrific conditions, including torture and other forms of abuse.\r\nAccording to Raed Fattouh, Palestinian supplies coordinator for the Territory, the approved list will include all food items, toys, stationery, kitchen utensils, mattresses and towels, excluding most of what Gaza needs, including construction materials to rebuild.\r\nFor example, cement will still be banned, Israel saying Hamas could use it to build military infrastructure. Also, Israel's official statement was vague, saying implementation procedures will follow, emphasizing that "existing security procedures" will continue - showing the announcement was a sham PR gesture to diffuse worldwide anger and satisfy world leaders, short of fully opening Gaza's land and sea borders for free in and out movement of people and goods. Nothing less can be accepted.\r\nYet Israel's ruse may have worked.\r\nAFP quoted EU diplomat, Catherine Ashton, welcoming the decision, saying:\r\n"We're looking with great interest to what the Israeli cabinet has said this morning," adding that she hopes "many more goods" will follow and stands ready to support Israel with a mission on the ground.\r\nMiddle East envoy, Tony Blair, called it an "important step....Israel has the clear right to defend itself and protect its security. The best way to do this is to ensure that weapons cannot reach Gaza whilst allowing into Gaza the items of ordinary daily life."\r\nFrench Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner (he, Blair and other EU officials reliably staunch Israeli allies) said: "It is the first major progress since the crisis began. But it is not enough."\r\nThe White House called it a "step in the right direction," and State Department spokesman, Mark Toner, said the Obama administration supports an "expansion of the scope and types of goods into Gaza....while addressing, obviously, Israel's legitimate security needs" - showing Washington only backs Israel's bogus gesture, and continues, like Tel Aviv, calling Hamas a terrorist organization, when, in fact, it's Palestine's legitimately elected government.\r\nPalestinian Response to the Sham\r\nHamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, told Reuters:\r\n"What is needed is a complete lifting of the blockade. Goods and people must be free to enter and leave. Gaza especially needs construction material(s), which must be allowed to come in without restrictions."\r\nSenior Hamas leaders rejected the plan, Ismail Radwan, calling it a thinly veiled attempt to "relieve the pressure. We in Hamas reject the Zionist decision, which is an attempt to obscure the international decision to completely lift the siege."\r\nFatah chief negotiator, Saeb Erakat, called it a "public relations ploy," saying Mahmoud Abbas "demands the complete lifting of the siege....He believes there are no partial solutions." He also wants it on his terms under his authority as chief Israeli enforcer. Otherwise, he opposes lifting, following orders from Tel Aviv and Washington.\r\nSari Bashi, director of the Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement said:\r\n"The restrictions on goods into and out of Gaza are instituted not for security reasons, but rather as part of a declared policy to restrict the movement of people and goods as a means of applying pressure on the Hamas regime. The express purpose....is to block all economic activity in Gaza. So the real question is whether Israel will abandon this policy - immediately or in the near future - or whether it will continue to aspire to block economic activity, but simply let in a few more consumer goods."\r\nIn a June 17 press release, Gisha headlined, "We don't need more lists, we need to end 'economic warfare,' " saying:\r\n"The time has come for Israel to ask serious questions about how three years of closure (have) affect(ed)....1.5 million people whose right to travel and to engage in productive work have been denied. We don't need cosmetic changes."\r\nWhat's needed is unconditional free in and out movement, and world community censure of Israeli policy, economic warfare, and its ploy about fearing weapons imports and other security concerns. Under international law, Israel, as an occupying power, is responsible for the population's welfare, including the free passage of food, medical supplies, clothing, and other essential items.","content_html":"

<\/font><\/p>\r\n

On June 17, Haaretz writer Barak Ravid and Reuters headlined, "Israel to ease Gaza land blockade," saying:<\/font><\/p>\r\n

"Israel's security cabinet voted Thursday to ease its land  blockade of the Gaza Strip, following its deadly raid on a humanitarian aid flotilla bound for the (mischaracterized) Hamas-ruled territory," in fact, its legitimate government.<\/font><\/p>\r\n

An official statement said:<\/font><\/p>\r\n

"The Security Cabinet conducted an extensive discussion over the last two days regarding adjustments in Israel's Gaza policy.<\/font><\/p>\r\n

It was agreed to:<\/font><\/p>\r\n

-- Liberalize the system by which civilian goods enter Gaza.<\/font><\/p>\r\n

-- Expand the inflow of materials for civilian projects that are under international supervision.<\/font><\/p>\r\n

-- Continue existing security procedures to prevent the inflow of weapons and war materiel.<\/font><\/p>\r\n

-- the Cabinet will decide in the coming days on additional steps to implement this policy.<\/font><\/p>\r\n

-- Israel expects the international community to work toward the immediate release of Gilad Shalit," the captured Israeli soldier on June 25, 2006 near the Kerem Shalom crossing, southeast of Rafah - one soldier compared to thousands of Palestinian civilians, held illegally in Israeli prisons under horrific conditions, including torture and other forms of abuse.<\/font><\/p>\r\n

According to Raed Fattouh, Palestinian supplies coordinator for the Territory, the approved list will include all food items, toys, stationery, kitchen utensils, mattresses and towels, excluding most of what Gaza needs, including construction materials to rebuild.<\/font><\/p>\r\n

For example, cement will still be banned, Israel saying Hamas could use it to build military infrastructure. Also, Israel's official statement was vague, saying implementation procedures will follow, emphasizing that "existing security procedures" will continue - showing the announcement was a sham PR gesture to diffuse worldwide anger and satisfy world leaders, short of fully opening Gaza's land and sea borders for free in and out movement of people and goods. Nothing less can be accepted.<\/font><\/p>\r\n

Yet Israel's ruse may have worked.<\/font><\/p>\r\n

AFP quoted EU diplomat, Catherine Ashton, welcoming the decision, saying:<\/font><\/p>\r\n

"We're looking with great interest to what the Israeli cabinet has said this morning," adding that she hopes "many more goods" will follow and stands ready to support Israel with a mission on the ground.<\/font><\/p>\r\n

Middle East envoy, Tony Blair, called it an "important step....Israel has the clear right to defend itself and protect its security. The best way to do this is to ensure that weapons cannot reach Gaza whilst allowing into Gaza the items of ordinary daily life."<\/font><\/p>\r\n

French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner (he, Blair and other EU officials reliably staunch Israeli allies) said: "It is the first major progress since the crisis began. But it is not enough."<\/font><\/p>\r\n

The White House called it a "step in the right direction," and State Department spokesman, Mark Toner, said the Obama administration supports an "expansion of the scope and types of goods into Gaza....while addressing, obviously, Israel's legitimate security needs" - showing Washington only backs Israel's bogus gesture, and continues, like Tel Aviv, calling Hamas a terrorist organization, when, in fact, it's Palestine's legitimately elected government.<\/font><\/p>\r\n

Palestinian Response to the Sham<\/font><\/p>\r\n

Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, told Reuters:<\/font><\/p>\r\n

"What is needed is a complete lifting of the blockade. Goods and people must be free to enter and leave. Gaza especially needs construction material(s), which must be allowed to come in without restrictions."<\/font><\/p>\r\n

Senior Hamas leaders rejected the plan, Ismail Radwan, calling it a thinly veiled attempt to "relieve the pressure. We in Hamas reject the Zionist decision, which is an attempt to obscure the international decision to completely lift the siege."<\/font><\/p>\r\n

Fatah chief negotiator, Saeb Erakat, called it a "public relations ploy," saying Mahmoud Abbas "demands the complete lifting of the siege....He believes there are no partial solutions." He also wants it on his terms under his authority as chief Israeli enforcer. Otherwise, he opposes lifting, following orders from Tel Aviv and Washington.<\/font><\/p>\r\n

Sari Bashi, director of the Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement said:<\/font><\/p>\r\n

"The restrictions on goods into and out of Gaza are instituted not for security reasons, but rather as part of a declared policy to restrict the movement of people and goods as a means of applying pressure on the Hamas regime. The express purpose....is to block all economic activity in Gaza. So the real question is whether Israel will abandon this policy - immediately or in the near future - or whether it will continue to aspire to block economic activity, but simply let in a few more consumer goods."<\/font><\/p>\r\n

In a June 17 press release, Gisha headlined, "We don't need more lists, we need to end 'economic warfare,' " saying:<\/font><\/p>\r\n

"The time has come for Israel to ask serious questions about how three years of closure (have) affect(ed)....1.5 million people whose right to travel and to engage in productive work have been denied. We don't need cosmetic changes."<\/font><\/p>\r\n

What's needed is unconditional free in and out movement, and world community censure of Israeli policy, economic warfare, and its ploy about fearing weapons imports and other security concerns. Under international law, Israel, as an occupying power, is responsible for the population's welfare, including the free passage of food, medical supplies, clothing, and other essential items. <\/font><\/p>","content_source":null,"content_url":null,"content_columns":"0","content_date_start":"2010-06-19 14:23:00","content_date_finish":"2010-06-19 14:23:00","content_date_register":"2010-06-19 14:23:00","content_date_last_edit":"0000-00-00 00:00:00","content_show_img":"1","content_show_details":"1","content_show_related_img":"1","content_show_slider":"1","content_show_title_slider":"1","content_comment":"0","content_score":"0","content_recorded":"0","content_confirmed":"1","content_status":"1","content_kind":"0","old_id":"21381","tag_id":null,"tag_word":null,"tag_service":null,"tag_total":null,"tag_soundex":null,"attach_token":null,"attach_date_register":null,"attach_id":null,"attach_file_ext":null,"attach_file_header":null,"attach_img_type":null,"attach_img_width":null,"attach_img_height":null,"attach_file_media":null,"attach_show_watermark":null,"score_average":null,"score_count":null,"score_date_last":null,"visit_count":"256","visit_date_last":"2025-05-09 17:42:47","attach_title":null,"node_title":"Commentaries","ot_node_left_right":"[{\"node_id\":134, \"left\":25, \"right\":26}]"}]]