From People's Daily
by Fares Akram
The easing of Israel's restrictions on the Gaza Strip has not allowed mass reconstruction or significant projects to be carried out, a senior European Union official said Monday.
The EU "faces difficulties in implementing humanitarian projects that are already agreed," said Kristalina Georgieva, the EU commissioner for international cooperation, humanitarian aid and crisis response. These programs include the building of schools, houses and infrastructure upgrading.
In June 2010, Israel relaxed Gaza blockade that had been in place since the Islamic Hamas movement took over the coastal enclave by force in June 2007. Hamas hasn't recognized the Jewish state, but Israel eased the closure to calm down international criticism of its raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, during which nine pro-Palestinian Turks were killed.
The easing allowed more access to consumer goods for people in Gaza, but kept items of dual-use withheld. "We can't easily bring all the goods that are necessary for our humanitarian programs ... this also means that the economy is very restricted," Georgieva said. more
The Kerem Shalom crossing in the south was briefly opened yesterday (16 May).
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