More boo-hoo stories about how the closure of the Karni crossing from Gaza to Israel is causing hardship for the palestinians:
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – Israel’s security closure of Gaza’s main cargo crossing has hit the coastal strip hard: milk and cheese have virtually disappeared, fruit is hard to find, and flour is running out.
The shortages could get worse for the 1.3 million residents of Gaza once Hamas formally takes power, with Israel threatening to seal its borders with Gaza altogether once the Islamic militants form a government.
“The world should look at this and find us a solution,” said Mustafa Shurab of the Palestinian Mill Co. “Collective punishment is a small word to describe this war.”
There is no evidence whatsoever of the fact that Israel has repeatedly offered to open a different, more secure crossing for palestinians.
The Palestinian Authority has rejected an Israeli offer to use the Kerem Shalom crossing in the southern Gaza Strip for the passage of goods while the Karni crossing is closed, because of fear that a temporary arrangement might continue indefinitely.
“We are worried that this will become permanent,†chief PA Negotiator Saeb Erekat, told The Jerusalem Post Tuesday. “I really urge the Israelis to stick to the agreement.â€
So they’d rather starve, apparently.
By the way, that JPost article is seven days old. The AP hasn’t been able to discover anything about a possible alternate crossing. Big shock.