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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Israel 'mulls plan to ease Gaza blockade' |
| 2010-06-16 |
| Israel's security cabinet was meeting on Wednesday to reportedly consider an international proposal for significantly easing its Gaza blockade, after weeks of global pressure to scrap the measure. The 15-member body was expected to vote on a proposal put together over several weeks of intense consultations between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mideast Quartet envoy Tony Blair, the daily Haaretz reported. The security cabinet began meeting early on Wednesday, a government official confirmed, for what was understood to be a debate on "matters related to Gaza" without giving any specific details of what they were debating nor when they were likely to vote. If approved, the "Blair-Netanyahu understandings" would see Israel adopt a new approach to those goods which have been kept out of Gaza since the blockade was imposed in 2006, Haaretz and other media outlets reported. Under the new proposal, thrashed out in three face-to-face sessions with Blair as well as multiple telephone calls, Israel would allow in everything -- except for items on a "blacklist," the paper said. It would also allow for the entry of much-needed building materials for UN-sponsored construction projects. And it would see Israel agreeing to examine a proposal for stationing EU and Palestinian Authority inspectors at the border to inspect incoming goods, Haaretz said. Israeli media said the proposal was widely expected to be approved by the security cabinet, with Blair telling Haaretz it was "a very important step." "It will allow us to keep weapons and weapon materials out of Gaza, but on the other hand to help the Palestinian population there," he said. "The policy in Gaza should be to isolate the extremists but to help the people." However, army radio said Netanyahu was expected to stress the naval blockade of Gaza would remain in place -- a measure he said was crucial for preventing Gaza from "turning into an Iranian port" through which arms would flow freely. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 Make sure to have in place a set of consequences for when Israel gets attacked by the "Palestinians" again. And make sure that if any sanctions or security measures are lifted that it is tied to Bambi's recommendations. |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-06-16 10:00 |
| #1 It will take until November, at least, to decide. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2010-06-16 04:35 |