MuslimAgorist
Member
- Mar 13, 2010
- 130
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Many are raising the question of why the Flotilla refuse to submit to Israeli inspectors. It is claimed that if their aim was humanitarian and not a political stunt that the Flotilla Movement would have graciously accepted Israel’s offer to accept that humanitarian cargo in the port of Ashdod and carry it into Gaza after a weapons inspection.
In the Blogosphere it appears the main point of contention is construction materials, specifically concrete. The Flotilla contained a large quantity of prefabricated homes intended to rebuild the structures destroyed by Israel in their assault on Gaza two years ago. The justification given to prohibit concrete is that it could be used by militants to construct the bunkers used in rocket attacks. But Israel also prohibits plaster, tar, cement, iron, wood for construction and tarpaulin sheets for huts. Israel has offered no advice on how the Palestinians should rebuild their demolished homes without any materials.
An Israeli human rights group known as Gisha published a partial list of items prohibited and permitted. It’s immediately obvious that it’s not about weapons when one sees things like size A4 paper, writing implements, notebooks and newspapers are prohibited.
Gisha calls Israel’s policy “arbitrary in nature”, and not relevant to national security. They give the following example, "Israel permits Gaza residents to receive small packets of margarine, considered a consumption item. Israel bans, however, the transfer of large buckets of margarine, because the buckets are designed for industrial use.” To me it’s clearly not arbitrary at all. The obvious trend between the two lists is that anything which might foster self sufficiency or economic growth is prohibited, while anything which fosters utter dependence on Israel is permitted.
Here are some more examples.
In the Blogosphere it appears the main point of contention is construction materials, specifically concrete. The Flotilla contained a large quantity of prefabricated homes intended to rebuild the structures destroyed by Israel in their assault on Gaza two years ago. The justification given to prohibit concrete is that it could be used by militants to construct the bunkers used in rocket attacks. But Israel also prohibits plaster, tar, cement, iron, wood for construction and tarpaulin sheets for huts. Israel has offered no advice on how the Palestinians should rebuild their demolished homes without any materials.
An Israeli human rights group known as Gisha published a partial list of items prohibited and permitted. It’s immediately obvious that it’s not about weapons when one sees things like size A4 paper, writing implements, notebooks and newspapers are prohibited.
Gisha calls Israel’s policy “arbitrary in nature”, and not relevant to national security. They give the following example, "Israel permits Gaza residents to receive small packets of margarine, considered a consumption item. Israel bans, however, the transfer of large buckets of margarine, because the buckets are designed for industrial use.” To me it’s clearly not arbitrary at all. The obvious trend between the two lists is that anything which might foster self sufficiency or economic growth is prohibited, while anything which fosters utter dependence on Israel is permitted.
Here are some more examples.
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