This news started coming in late last night - with the AP and several other news outlets reporting it via "sources."
Being a news person myself - I don't report what "sources" say. i hate people who are too afraid to use their name, except in a few situations where the name cannot be used because of something like safety concerns...
the actual news is under the jump...
UPDATE - I was asked for links... Here are some...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/...
http://www.reuters.com/...
http://www.cnn.com/...
3 pretty diverse sources - all the same info
According to the prime minister's office - the sea and land blockade will be "eased".
Now I know what you're going to ask, "what does ease mean?"
Well, according to the "sources" that came out about 24 hours ago - the list of products not allowed into israel is going to be greatly reduced.
I don't have the old list, or the new list, so I'm just going to have to take their word it's being cut down some.
what are some things now allowed? Well, for one I think we can assume weapons like rockets, tanks, bombs, TNT, etc. are not being let in. I have no problem with this. I know others here do have a problem with that list being banned. Good for you.
The "souces in the administration" are also saying things like concrete and steel were not allowed before. Those items will now be let in on a limited basis. This will be done through coordination with the UN. I think this is a step forward - not perfect by any means - but a step forward.
Some things I hope are allowed in, or at least more frequently than before, wire for electricity, building equipment including bricks and wood and pipes. unlimited amounts of food, water, water purification supplies, clothes, blankets, books, etc. The AP reports do not have anything about these products so far. I don't tend to read Israeli or Palestinian newspaper - so maybe someone else can help.
the reports also do not say ships will be allowed in and out of the port willy-nilly. I have no problem with this. If israel is truely trying to fight against a group of terrorists (mainly militant hamas) i think they have the right to keep weapons out of gaza. That is an opinion i'm sure many here will hate, but it's how I feel.
My temp solution is simple. If Turkey, or Iran, or Greece, or the U.S. wants to send aid to gaza it goes to a third party port. Lets say Italty for fun. it is then inspected by both UN and Red Cross members. The RC and UN people then go with the ship to gaza to make sure no weapons are added to the ships before docking. The RC and UN keep a list of everything that goes into Gaza, and then they can compare it to what actually makes it to the citizens. Using that data the RC and UN can then accurately say what aid is needed, instead of making estimates.
I like to think my idea is pretty middle of the road, btu I'm sure many here will think I'm either an israel hater, or a palestinian hater. Good for all of you.
I'm blockquoting the first version of this morning's AP report below. Google is your friend if you want to find yesterday's.
Israel agreed on Thursday to ease its land
blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, hoping to quell growing
international criticism following a deadly sea raid.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released few details
about the changes in its three-year-old blockade, and it was not
clear whether any firm decisions had been made.
The only item singled out in its statement was a plan to allow
in desperately needed construction materials for civilian projects,
but only under international supervision.
Israel has barely allowed in materials like cement and steel,
arguing that Hamas militants could use them to build weapons and
fortifications. That policy has prevented Gaza from rebuilding
after Israel's fierce war in the territory last year.
There was no mention in the statement of any change in other
damaging aspects of the blockade, like bans on exports or allowing
in raw materials used in industrial production.
Israel's naval blockade will also remain in force. The statement
noted that Israel would "continue existing security procedures to
prevent the inflow of weapons and war materiel." Netanyahu has
repeatedly warned that if the naval closure is lifted, Hamas would
turn Gaza into an "Iranian port."
Israel has been scrambling to find ways to ease the blockade
since a May 31 raid on a blockade-busting flotilla turned deadly.
The deaths of nine Turkish activists on board one of the ships drew
international attention to the blockade and provoked much anger
against Israel worldwide.
Israeli naval commandos said they were forced to open fire after
they were attacked by a violent mob of activists on board the ship.
The activists say they acted in self-defense.
Israel, with Egypt's cooperation, imposed the blockade three
years ago after the Hamas movement, which killed hundreds of
Israelis in suicide attacks, violently wrested control of Gaza. For
the most part, only basic humanitarian goods have been allowed in.
But the blockade failed to achieve its aims of stanching the
flow of weapons to Gaza or weakening Hamas. A network of smuggling
tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border became a conduit for both
weapons and commercial goods sold at black market prices. Gazans
sank deeper into poverty, turning their anger against Israel and
not their Hamas rulers.
The partial lifting of the siege did not satisfy Hamas. "We
want a real lifting of the siege, not window-dressing," said Hamas
lawmaker Salah Bardawil.
In the West Bank, the rival pro-Western Palestinian government
of President Mahmoud Abbas also rejected the Israeli decision.
Negotiator Saeb Erekat said the closure should be ended altogether.
"The siege is collective punishment and it must be lifted."
Amid the heavy international criticism that followed the Israeli
naval raid, Egypt opened its land border crossing with Gaza - the
main gateway for some residents to enter and exit the crowded
territory.
But most Gazans remained confined to the territory because
Egyptian officials say they have let in only about 10,000 people
with special travel permits, such as students and people with
foreign passports.
thanks all - i'm at work right now (yay graveyard) - so you'll have to excuse the fact this was written quickly, and without the aid of spellcheck. I'll try to edit it later, but try and give me a break at first.