Israel has allowed some previously banned food items into the Gaza Strip, officials said Wednesday, taking a small step toward easing its three-year-old blockade of the territory after worldwide criticism of last week’s deadly raid on a Gaza-bound international flotilla.
The decision only narrowly expands the list of goods that can enter Gaza — and most of the newly permitted items are already being smuggled into the area from neighbouring Egypt.
The move also does not include the most-sought items in Gaza, such as cement, steel and other materials needed to rebuild the war-devastated strip.
But it is the first tangible step by Israel to temper the uproar caused by the raid, which left nine pro-Palestinian activists dead after a clash with Israeli naval commandos on one of the flotilla’s ships.
Palestinian liaison official Raed Fattouh, who coordinates the flow of goods into Gaza with Israel, said that soda, juice, jam, spices, shaving cream, potato chips, cookies and candy were now permitted. He said some products have already entered Gaza, and others would cross in the coming days.
The naval raid drew attention to the blockade, imposed by Israel and Egypt after Hamas militants violently seized power in Gaza in 2007.
Wednesday’s gesture was unlikely to blunt the international criticism since it doesn’t lift the ban on materials needed to rebuild Gaza. Israeli officials confirmed the decision to allow in the new foods.
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Empire State Building no to Mother Teresa
New York : New York City’s Empire State Building said “yes” to Mariah Carey, dog shows, cancer charities — and even the 60th anniversary of Communist China.
But the landmark skyscraper’s owners have declined to illuminate it in honour of the late Mother Teresa.
“They’re bigots! They have an animus against Catholics!” Catholic League president Bill Donohue said.
He said his lay advocacy group requested that the building glow on August 26 for the centennial of the late Nobel Peace Prize winner’s birth. The request was denied in an unsigned, faxed letter, Mr Donohue said, “and they never gave an explanation.”
He said Empire State Building officials were “stonewalling” not only the Catholic League, but also the media and members of New York’s City Council.
Now, another prominent New York Catholic is voicing her outrage.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn told the AP that she spoke on Tuesday with Empire State Building owner Anthony Malkin.
Although the real estate mogul was “very professional” and said he “would reflect on the points I made,” she said, he didn’t give her a satisfactory answer. She told the AP the answer should be “yes to Mother Teresa.” —AP