The shipment according to Israeli policy to ease restrictions on exports
Israel has continued its policy to ease restrictions on exports from Gaza. According to reports, furniture produced in the Gaza Strip was shipped to the West Bank.
The merchandise, ordered by the Palestinian Ministry of Education in the West Bank, includes thousands of parts for school chairs and desks. It was transported in four double trailer trucks via the Kerem Shalom land crossing.
Earlier Israel eased its ban on Gaza goods to allow under the supervision of the United Nations World Food Program to truck to the West Bank 1.2 million energy date bars produced in a Gaza factory. It’s the second time this year it has allowed Gaza date bars to be sent to the West Bank. The date bars will help feed 75,000 Palestinian school children who study in 300 West Bank schools.
Despite positive change of Israeli policy, the Israeli Agriculture Ministry said recently that the Hamas government has barred much of Gaza's fruit imports from Israel, citing a need to cultivate local Palestinian agriculture and for "resistance" against the Jewish state.
The ministry noted that with the exception of bananas and apples, Gaza is no longer admitting fresh fruit from Israel. The ban affects at least seven kinds of fruit which, in terms of sales, constitutes around a 50% cut in imports compared to 2011, valued by the ministry at US$26 million.
