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From Haaretz today:


The Gaza blockade is effectively over

Enforcement of the siege has all but ended - part of the price Israel is paying to restore its international reputation after its disastrous flotilla raid.

By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff

Despite the contradictory statements issued by the Prime Minister's Office yesterday, the general direction is clear. Whether the decision has already been made, as the English statement indicates, or will become official only at a later stage, as the Hebrew statement implies, Israel has folded.

Enforcement of the blockade - the purpose of the government's order to stop a Gaza-bound flotilla by force on May 31 - has effectively ended. This is part of the price Israel is paying the international community in order to end the flotilla affair and prevent a rerun of the uproar that led to last year's Goldstone report.

But perhaps the price is not so high. Israel will give up something that was unnecessary anyway: the ban on allowing food products and other goods classified as "luxuries" into Gaza. This ban was actually a collective punishment for the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Israel will probably compromise on allowing building materials into the Gaza Strip, because this embargo is preventing the reconstruction of neighborhoods that were destroyed during last year's Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.

According to international organizations, 3,400 Palestinian houses were destroyed during the offensive.

The battle against arms smuggling into Gaza will continue. And if there is ultimately no choice but to end the naval blockade, Israel will consider involving international forces in searches of Gaza-bound ships.

The right flank of Netanyahu's cabinet is far from thrilled with these steps, and the same goes for senior defense establishment officials. But when the Obama administration insists, the Netanyahu government gives in.

The world, of course, is responding to Israel's statement in English. But Jordan's reaction typifies the international community's impression: "Cosmetic measures," Amman's statement sniffed, though adding that it was a step in the "right direction."

As far as Gaza's people are concerned, the situation will not change much.

The extensive smuggling via tunnels from Sinai has made up for many of the shortages Israel tried to cause. Halva, jam and chocolate have found their way into Gaza in roundabout ways, while the official ban on letting them in brought Israel nothing but embarrassment.

The recent cabinet discussions appear to be cementing Israel's image in the Arab - and perhaps also the Western - world as a state that mainly understands the language of force.

The Turkish passengers who beat Israeli naval commandos with clubs on the deck of the Mavi Marmara have scored a victory. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will now be portrayed as the leader who broke Israel's resistance.

But even so, a partial easing of the blockade at an inconvenient time is better than continuing the current flawed policy.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/op ... r-1.296927

Have a listen to this specially the interview between Mustafa Baguti Palestinian MP and Israeli Political correspondent for the Jurusalem Post Gill Hauffman at 5.20.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/ne ... ayepisode2

It is concerning to say the least about the indifferent attitude of hauffman towards the Palestinians and how in his mind Israels attitude and treatment towards them is totally justified.

^DD very interesting and enlightening interview (btw - it is the one on the 17 June - there's a more recent one on Gaza on the site). Given what Bibi is now saying below, it makes what Gill was saying all the more ridiculous!




Sometimes you've just got to hand it to the Israelis for sheer Chutzpah.

Netanyahu: Decision to ease Gaza siege weakens Hamas

Prime Minister tells Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that easing civilian blockade allows Israel to focus on real security concerns.

By Jonathan Lis

The cabinet decision to scale back the civilian blockade on Gaza while tightening the security blockade enables Israel to focus on real security issues, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday in an address to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

"The cabinet decision is the best one for Israel, because it eliminates Hamas' main propaganda claim and allows us and our international allies to face our real concerns in the realm of security," Netanyahu said.
...

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-decision-to-ease-gaza-siege-weakens-hamas-1.297476


So, the siege was helping Hamas and now out of the goodness of their hearts the Israelis are letting more goods in, and this will hurt Hamas.


Masters of spin. (But will ANYONE swallow this?)

Cheers,
Shafique