Israel security cabinet votes to ease Gaza blockade
Senior cabinet ministers on Sunday approved steps toward easing Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip, days after Jerusalem had issued a non-binding declaration supporting such a move.The Prime Minister's Office announced late last week that the security cabinet had agreed in principle to relax Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip. However, no binding decision was made during the cabinet meeting.
The ministers held a long discussion on Wednesday afternoon and another onThursday morning on the topic of altering Israel's policy ,following the three-year siege on the Hamas ruled territory. The siege was imposed after Hamas violently seized control over the Gaza Strip in 2007.
The aim of the discussions was to approve a plan drafted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the envoy of the Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators Tony Blair. The discussions spanned a total of six hours, but no decision was ever made.
During both meetings, many ministers voiced their opinions regarding the blockade, and the defense establishment presented the plans for the "liberalization" of the blockade. However, upon concluding the discussions, the ministers did not vote on any binding practical draft of the decision.
In fact, the policy by which the government is currently bound is the one decided by the security cabinet during the previous term of former prime minister Ehud Olmert, by which the blockade remains as it was.
A senior defense official said Thursday that Israel had "every intention to increase the transfer of goods into Gaza even before the cabinet meeting. We have notified the Palestinians, regardless of the cabinet meeting, that we will allow the entry of food items, house wares, writing implements, mattresses and toys. Beyond that, we have not said a thing."
Sources at the Prime Minister's Office admitted that there was no decision, and no vote, during the security cabinet meeting. One of the sources said that "it was a briefing by the prime minister," and another source said it was a "declaration of intent."
"A meeting will be held soon, and we hope that a binding decision will be taken then," the prime minister's office said, explaining that the reason for the delay is "the need for continued contact with allies within the international community in order to gain support for the liberalization plan."
This despite the fact that most of the international community has already voiced support for the plan, following a campaign launched by Blair, who drafted the plan with Netanyahu.
The international community has welcomed Israel's announcement, stating Israel's intention to ease its land blockade of the Gaza Strip, with the White House saying the announcement was a "step in the right direction."
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