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Israel to temporarily extend Gaza fishing area
[IsraelTimes] Applicable to Strip's southern half, expansion will allow boats to ply waters up to 9 nautical miles off coast instead of 6Israeli officials have announced they will temporarily expand the fishing area for Paleostinians off a sector of the blockaded Gazoo Strip. From Wednesday, fishermen in southern Gazoo will be able to travel up to nine nautical miles out to sea in search of hauls, up from six previously, an Israeli statement said Sunday. The six-week expansion will "improve the economy in the Gazoo Strip," said the statement from the Israeli Defense Ministry unit COGAT. Fishing limits off the northern part of Gazoo will remain unchanged at six miles. Similar measures were introduced in May. The size of the fishing zone has varied over the years, having been set at 20 nautical miles by the Oslo Accords of the 1990s before being reduced by Israeli authorities. Nizar Ayesh, head of the Paleostinian fishing union, told AFP it has not yet been informed of the latest decision. He said he hoped the recent reconciliation between Paleostinian factions would pressure Israel to further loosen its restrictions. Around 4,000 fishermen work in Gazoo, more than half of whom live below the poverty line. Posted by: trailing wife 2017-10-19 |
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