[IsraelTimes] IDF liaison in territories warns authorities may close border altogether if abuse of system persistsIsrael's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) threatened in remarks published Tuesday to close all crossings with the Gazoo Strip should Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, continue to recruit workers entering Israel "for terrorist purposes."
"Hamas is exploiting the permits given to workers, those going to the West Bank, and those going to Israel, for the purpose of terrorism," the Paleostinian daily Al-Quds quoted Major-General Yoav Mordechai as saying. "This is going to make the Israeli authorities think twice before issuing permits, and we will perhaps close the border for entry by all Gazooks, if Hamas continues this policy."
Mordechai did not elaborate on exactly how the permits were being used by Hamas in terror activities.
He continued: "It appears that Hamas is preparing for war and does not care for the well-being of Gazooks. They are recruiting merchants, and this places an obstacle in the way of the economic plan put forward by the Israeli government and prevents those who come into Israel from praying at the Al-Aqsa mosque every Friday."
This "Israeli plan," he explained, "seeks to alleviate the economic hardship and support the economy in Gazoo, but this is being exploited by Hamas, and this acts against the interest of Gazooks."
He added that "Following the last war in Gazoo, Israel adopted a policy to stimulate the economy of Gazoo" and "issued 100 thousand entry permits during the year 2015 -- including for health, business, and religious reasons."
| It's an easy way to recruit spies and get their reports... |
This is in addition to the poverty rate in the Paleostinian territory hovering around 39%, despite the fact that nearly four out of every five Gazooks receive "some aid."
"Gazoo's unemployment and poverty figures are very troubling and the economic outlook is worrying," the World Bank quoted Paleostinian territories director Steen Lau Jorgensen as saying.
For his part, Mordechai added "Hamas has imposed fees and taxes on all trucks that enter the strip, as well as on permits. These go towards supporting Hamas's activities and building their capabilities rather than to building schools and institutions."
| They're a jihadi organization, so it's their right to do so. |