Tuesday, 30 March 2010

Israel to Allow Shoes into Gaza Strip After Three Year Ban

Did You Know

Pressure From US Seen as Key to Allowing Footwear Into Strip
by Jason Ditz,
March 29, 2010
According to Palestinian officials, the Israeli government has made one of its most significant revisions to the Gaza blockade in three years, allowing the importation of shoes and certain types of clothes into the tiny enclave.

Israel has not allowed any shoes to be legally brought into the Gaza Strip since 2007, and officially cemented the ban in 2008 under the claim that shoes were a ‘dual use technology.’ This argument was based on claims that since militaries wear shoes as part of their uniforms, any shoes imported into the strip might be used as part of a military uniform. This same argument was made in the banning of many types of clothing.

For those who could afford it, this meant having to import shoes by way of the tunnels into Egypt, which regularly come under Israeli bombardment because they allow the importation of banned goods, from shoes to iPods to cars. For Gaza’s poor however, importation is not an option and they must make do with what they have or go without.

Officials say that the move is a concession by the Israeli government after pressure from the Obama Administration. The shoes will be allowed in later in the week, after the Passover holiday blockade is lifted. It is unclear if the move signals a semi-permanent end to the ban on shoes, or if the shipment will be a one-shot deal.


I find it hard to believe that any country would ban shoes of all things.
Then again posting a story on it, is not an every day occurrence.
To ban shoes is ridiculous in the first place.
Imagine if shoes were banned from your country for three years.
Israel does a lot of ridiculous things, this is just one.
If shoes were banned in the US, Canada or Britain imagine the uproar.
But it was quiet alright to ban them from Gaza.
This just proves Israel is doing deliberate things to  torment and antagonize those in Gaza.
Banning shoes how pathetic.
Is there any other county in the World that bans foot wear?

I could be wrong but the answer is NO.

Well lets give them  a pat on the back for being so gracious, as to allow shoes into Gaza. Gee now Israel can  be so proud of itself.
No excuse is acceptable for such behavior.
Maybe shoes should be banned from Israel. Just imagine how they would react to a shoe ban????????
On March 5 2010 Channel 4 aired an episode of Dispatches entitled “The Children of Gaza”. It is heart breaking,  but you must watch it. The children tell their stories. Through the eyes of the children.

River to Sea
 Uprooted Palestinian

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