FICC calls for correct economic disengagement from Gaza strip

The Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce ( FICC ) last week organized an emergency press conference to outline the economic aspects of Israel's disengagement from the Gaza strip.
 
The FICC argued that following the disengagement and the removal of Israeli border control from border crossings, un-standardized goods would reach Israeli markets without any Israeli control over such goods. According to the FICC under the 1994 Paris accord both Israel and the Palestinian authority live under customs union in which Israeli customs controls goods moving in and out of the territory.
 
FICC argues that since the world regards the West Bank and Gaza strip as Palestinian territory, the world objects to any Israeli control over goods moving between Gaza and the West Bank. Hence, since the West Bank has not yet been completely separated fromIsrael, such goods may find ways to penetrate into Israeli territory.
 
FICC claims further that such situation may lead to the flooding of markets in Israel with unlicensed drugs and medicines, foods and faked electrical equipment. Such a situation would inflict heavy losses to well established Israeli firms.
 
In the short term, the FICC would like the Israeli government to set up economic border in which full customs control would be effected in two border crossings. At these two border crossings - Karni & Erez, Israeli customs will exercise Israeli import laws on goods transited from the Gaza strip to the West Bank.
 
In the long run the FICC recommended that Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian Authority should agree to set up an economic zone along the Egyptian, Israeli Palestinian border in which Egypt would control goods en route to the Palestinian Authority and Israelwould exercise full control over goods en route to the West Bank.