Israel Chokes Gaza Despite Announced Easing

[ConsAreLiars]

...
Gisha reports that there has been a moderate rise in the volume of trucks entering Gaza and an increase in imports of consumer goods, but that this volume still falls way below pre-embargo days, and isn't sufficient to meet the daily needs of Gaza's 1.5 million civilians.

During the week after Jun. 20, 695 trucks of goods entered Gaza. This compares with 2,400 per week prior to the closure, and meets only 30 percent of Palestinian needs. Over the past three years 2,328 trucks entered Gaza on a monthly basis compared with 10,400 trucks monthly prior to the blockade.

Additionally, items which could be used for industry and manufacturing and which present no security threat are still being restricted. There appears to be "no change in the policy of inflicting economic warfare or by preventing entry of goods necessary for production," says the Gisha report. "Textiles, industrial-sized buckets of margarine, glucose, packaging boxes and other raw materials are still banned.
...

A major step towards helping to rehabilitate Gaza's economy would be permitting exports on which Gaza's economy is heavily reliant. A 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access, signed by Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in 2005, agreed to 400 daily truckloads of exports. In the last three years 295 export trucks have exited Gaza. Gisha reports that "critical manufacturing sectors such as furniture, clothing and textile, and food production are dependent upon revenues acquired by selling their goods outside the strip."

The near collapse of these industries has been aggravated by restrictions on Gaza's banking ties with the outside world, making the legal transfer of money almost impossible. These industries have been further decimated by the ban on the entrance of raw materials and spare parts.

More at: http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=52161

The source cited, Gisha ( http://www.gisha.org/ ), describes itself in the following words:

Gisha is an Israeli not-for-profit organization, founded in 2005, whose goal is to protect the freedom of movement of Palestinians, especially Gaza residents. Gisha promotes rights guaranteed by international and Israeli law.



Since the 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel's military has developed a complex system of rules and sanctions to control the movement of the 3.4 million Palestinians who live there. The restrictions violate the fundamental right of Palestinians to freedom of movement. As a result, additional basic rights are violated, including the right to life, the right to access medical care, the right to education, the right to livelihood, the right to family unity and the right to freedom of religion.



Gisha, whose name means both "access" and "approach," uses legal assistance and public advocacy to protect the rights of Palestinian residents. Because freedom of movement is a precondition for exercising other basic rights, Gisha’s work has a multiplier effect in helping residents of the occupied territories access education, jobs, family members and medical care.



As part of its legal work, Gisha represents individuals and organizations in Israeli administrative proceedings and courts. Gisha’s legal activity is based on Israeli law, international human rights and humanitarian law.



As part of its advocacy work, Gisha reaches out to members of the public and opinion-makers using publications in various media, in order to promote awareness and sensitivity for human rights in the occupied territories. Gisha also advocates directly before decision-makers to promote policies that respect human rights.



Gisha is operated by a professional staff and guided by a board that includes legal academics and practitioners, women and men, Arabs and Jews, who have helped shape Israeli human rights law through their advocacy and writings.



Gisha is registered in Israel as an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization. Gisha is generously supported by donations from Israel and abroad.

[Chulanowa]

1. But didn't you hear?

There's a mall!

And a swimming pool!

[shira]

2. Gisha is not a reliable or credible organization

http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/gisha


Website: www.gisha.org

Founded in 2005, based in Tel Aviv

Gisha aims “to protect the freedom of movement of Palestinians, especially Gaza residents” and uses “legal assistance and public advocacy to protect the rights of Palestinian residents.”

In 2006-2008, the New Israel Fund (NIF) authorized grants worth $35,625 to Gisha (2006, 2007, 2008).

Donors include the EU, Norway, the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Foundation for Middle East Peace, Oxfam GB, and Open Society Institute.

Reports and legal actions filed in Israeli courts promote a selective human rights agenda.

Employs “apartheid” rhetoric.

CEO Sari Bashi has accused the IDF of enacting policies in order “to empty the West Bank of Palestinians because of Israeli territorial claims there…The motivations of this policy appear to be political rather than security-oriented.”

In a 2007 report, “Disengaged Occupiers: The Legal Status of Gaza,” which contained important factual and legal omissions, Gisha claimed that “completion of the disengagement plan has not absolved Israel of its obligations to permit and to facilitate the proper functioning of civilian life in the Gaza Strip.”

A 2008 letter to President Bush, written with Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, misrepresented international legal terminology such as “collective punishment” and that Gaza continued to be occupied.

Gisha claims that Israel’s Gaza policy “target...civilian goods, not military supplies.” This ignores evidence that restricted goods, such as cement and pipes, have been used for military purposes including rockets.

Gisha’s highly publicized 2008 campaign condemning Israel for barring Palestinian students’ travel from Gaza to Israel and then to the United States under the Fulbright program erased Israel’s legitimated security concerns. Indeed, most of these “students” were refused entry by the American government on security grounds.

Gisha Essentials:

Gisha’s ‘halo effect’ reflected in false claims on Fulbright/Gaza scholars, NGO Monitor, August, 13 2008

Gisha: Access for all?, NGO Monitor, February 14, 2007

Gisha erroneously accuses Israel of violation of international law ("Gisha Calls for Resumption of Fuel Supplies to Gaza"), April 14, 2008

[azurnoir]

3. ah from oh so unbiased NGO monitor what no CAMERA? n/t

[Tripmann]

4. LOL! Don't you know Az, only shiras sources are allowed in her little wendyhouse called I/P

And shes the only one allowed to kick her opinion pieces ad-nauseum.

[shira]

5. What charges from NGO-Monitor against Gisha do you have a problem with? n/t

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[shira]

7. Why hasn't Gisha (which you believe to be credible) reported WRT Hamas withholding aid from Gazans?

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,698766,00.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL0983878

Hamas has been doing this since at least the end of OCL in early 2009.

Israel could send 10x the amount of aid and supplies in but with Hamas withholding that aid, Palestinians will continue to suffer.

When has Gisha ever reported this?

=========

If their aim is to defame and demonize Israel - and it appears that's the case - fine. But if they're truly trying to help Palestinians, they're not really helping. Why is that?

And why do you trust them? :shrug:

[Tripmann]

8. Translation: "Look over there......."

[shira]

9. It's a question of credibility. If you cared about Palestinians, you'd want Gisha all over Hamas

....for withholding aid to Palestinians.

Also, which charges from NGO-Monitor WRT Gisha's lack of credibility do you have a problem with?

To use your language, Gisha is one of many odious organizations that mass produces "filth" on par with far Rightwing hate outlets that bash Blacks, Arabs, Muslims, immigrants....

=============

Feel free to prove me wrong - find for me some of your favorite Israel bashing organizations, which you believe to be credible, that criticize and condemn Hamas for their role in withholding food and medical aid from Palestinians.

I'll wait.

[Tripmann]

10. LOL! YOU, OCLs biggest cheerleader, talking about caring for palestinians!!

Thanks for the bump, by the way.

[aranthus]

11. You realize you're wasting your time with this one?n/t

[shira]

12. Yeah, you're right. n/t

[ConsAreLiars]

13. Maybe you should try reading the article and facing the facts of the situation in Gaza instead of

your usual, smear, divert, demonize stunts. Of course, you can't face the facts. They contradict what your faith-based delusional system compels you to believe, despite the facts. Nearly very humanitarian organization on the planet and nearly every Nobel Peace Prize winner other than Kissinger and possibly Obama (he's rather vague but seems to agree that the Israeli gov't is deliberately and unjustly engaged in collective punishment) . For you, their denunciations can only mean that they are all a bunch of Nazi anti-Semites who all should go back to Stormfront where they belong.

Do you get even a sniff of how sick that is?

The facts. OK, that was your cue, go back to your wailing and whining, diverting and denying and denouncing.

Gisha reports that there has been a moderate rise in the volume of trucks entering Gaza and an increase in imports of consumer goods, but that this volume still falls way below pre-embargo days, and isn't sufficient to meet the daily needs of Gaza's 1.5 million civilians. During the week after Jun. 20, 695 trucks of goods entered Gaza. This compares with 2,400 per week prior to the closure, and meets only 30 percent of Palestinian needs. Over the past three years 2,328 trucks entered Gaza on a monthly basis compared with 10,400 trucks monthly prior to the blockade.
...
"Permitting mayonnaise and potato chips into Gaza is really irrelevant in dealing with the underlying issues," says Maxwell Gaylard, UN Deputy Special and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Middle East. "What we need to see is an improvement in Gaza's water, sanitation, power grid, educational and health sectors. Gaza's economy is shot to pieces and its infrastructure is extremely fragile," Gaylard told IPS.
...
Gisha reports that "critical manufacturing sectors such as furniture, clothing and textile, and food production are dependent upon revenues acquired by selling their goods outside the strip." The near collapse of these industries has been aggravated by restrictions on Gaza's banking ties with the outside world, making the legal transfer of money almost impossible. These industries have been further decimated by the ban on the entrance of raw materials and spare parts.

"Operation Cast Lead destroyed at least 60,000 homes and structures which need to be urgently repaired and rebuilt. The easing of the blockade is not addressing this adequately," Gunness told IPS.

(edit typo)

[shira]

14. Why doesn't Gisha factor in corrupt, irresponsible Palestinian leadership which fails to invest...

...in infrastructure and diverts funds for terror purposes?

Israel's security concerns certainly factor in, but even if Israel were to pretend there was no conflict going on and opened all avenues for economic and social development, Palestinian leadership still needs to act responsibly or there will be little significant change.

-----------

What if I were to join you in condemning Israel for all they do? I'll assume every accusation and criticism you believe to be true is legitimate, honest, and accurate. I want to feel like I'm helping Palestinians. I'll do everything you and all the other cool people of the pro-Palestinians crowd does. I'll grow a soul and will join the human race. I'll join the ISM and FGM and will be on the next flotilla. Whatever you do and say, I'll do.

Then what? Shall we pretend Palestinian leadership plays no role in Palestinian suffering? Do we just let them off the hook? Do we hope they'll change after Israel decides to get their act together? And if they don't change at that time, then what? We have to do all we can to help Palestinians. Palestinian leadership is withholding food and medical aid from Gazans, limiting their access to Egypt and to Israel (for medical aid), denying women, gays, religious minorities, children and everyone else there basic human rights, stockpiling weapons near or inside schools, mosques, and hospitals, and they're brainwashing children to be intolerant and hateful warmongers.

I really want to be like you and help to give peace a chance. After we bash, stomp, and lambaste Israel what do we do about Hamas and Fatah? We also need to help Palestinians in Jordan and Lebanon. Where do we start? There are so many Palestinians to help.

Please advise.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

15. One might ask what the use is in ' investing' in the infrastructure tho currently

If they do build something you would likely get some danged good odds with the bookies on that it would be destroyed by the IDF before to long(that is assuming they get some of the still restricted building materials).

I'm not going to go into the rest of your post since I'm way to tired currently, tho I will say you make 'some' good points there :)

[shira]

16. Why would Hamas want to invest in infrastructure, the economy, etc?

Making life better for Palestinians runs counter to their warmongering goals.

It's not like they're worried about being voted out via elections. Now that they're in power, they're in for the duration. Building a society of educated, productive people is a threat to their power. Politics has been that way....well, forever. Except recently with the introduction of liberal democracies.

To know what Hamas is all about and what their goals are, read Hamas' charter.