17/06/2010 Israeli security cabinet voted Thursday to ease its land blockade of the Gaza Strip, following an international outcry over its deadly raid on a humanitarian aid flotilla but provided few details on what new goods would be allowed in.
Under the plan, Israel would "liberalize the system by which civilian goods enter Gaza (and) expand the inflow of materials for civilian projects that are under international supervision," the government said in a statement.
But it also stressed that Israel would "continue existing security procedures to prevent the inflow of weapons and war materiel."
The security cabinet decision came in the wake of mounting international calls to ease the four-year blockade of the impoverished Palestinian territory in the wake of a deadly raid on a fleet of aid ships on May 31.
The announcement made no mention of any lifting of Israel's sea blockade of the besieged Strip.
The plan is reportedly based on understandings reached in recent days by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair that call for switching from a list of allowed items to a list of banned goods. It would also allow the entry of more building materials for UN-sponsored construction projects.
Israel was also reported to have been considering a proposal for stationing EU and Palestinian Authority inspectors at the border to inspect incoming goods, but the plan did not appear to be included in Thursday's decision.
Currently thousands of products - some as banal as toilet paper and ginger - are listed by Israel as constituting a "security" risk and prevented from reaching Gaza. The list also includes products such as construction materials, like metal pipes which Israel fears could be used for building rockets, and cement which could be used to build bunkers and tunnels.
On Wednesday, Israel allowed eight trucks loaded with kitchen equipment to enter Gaza for the first time since 2006, following recent decisions to allow in snack foods and other household items that were previously banned.
Israel has faced mounting calls to lift the blockade following its deadly raid on an aid flotilla trying to run the blockade, in which nine Turkish activists were shot dead by Israeli navy seals.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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