Sugar and Spice and everything…denied: Israels Blockade list
Just take a look at this list. Really, just do it. Now. GISHA caveats that the list is approximate and partial, and it changes from time to time, and that some of the items are permitted only for use by international organizations (lest the Red Cross have a midnight Lion Bar craving). It is based on information from Palestinian traders and businesspersons, international organizations, and the Palestinian Coordination Committee.
The list was published alongside a press release informing that after 12 months of unsuccessful attempts by Gisha, Israel has finally admitted that it does indeed possess a list of goods whose admission into the Gaza Strip is permitted (no surprise there, but now its official).
Cattle and coffee. Notebooks and newspapers. Sugar and spice and shoes. Baby wipes, batteries, blankets. Diapers (back to cloth, I guess? Perhaps another “greenwashing” scheme?). Cilantro, cumin, pomegranates, or ginger. Tinned meat, macaroni, tahini, or powdered milk. And on and on.
A collective "time out" for Gaza's babies
Once again we see how invasive the occupation is-how the siege determines not only what food you have on your plate, but what you can and cannot read, how you move, what you clothe yourself with. Or as far as children are concerned, what you play with (yes, toys are on the list too).
Oh, and it has also surfaced that they are calculating how many calories each person needs. Because remember what Dov Weisglass said before this all started: “think of it like an appointment with a dietitian. The Palestinians will get a lot thinner, but won’t die.”
GISHA’s tireless director had this to say of the matter to the BBC:
Sari Bashi, says she is no security expert, “but preventing children from receiving toys, preventing manufacturers from getting raw materials – I don’t see how that’s responsive to Israeli security needs.”
And she says that some of the prohibitions appear to be absurdly arbitrary: “I certainly don’t understand why cinnamon is permitted, but coriander is forbidden. Is there something more dangerous about coriander? Is coriander more critical to Gaza’s economy than cinnamon? This is a policy that appears to make no sense.”
05/07/2010 at 4:13 pm
What can we say but Allah be with you. It is shameful to be anything but a Gazan these days, keep strong and ignore the rest of us, we are useless.
05/07/2010 at 4:24 pm
Thinner but not dead… isn’t that the same method the Nazis used in the camps and with POWs.
Wny doesn’t the UN scream? Why aren’t other countries in the region screaming? How about that nasty fellow in Iran? He hates Israel. Is he advocating for Gaza?
Are any NGOs allowed into Gaza?
05/28/2010 at 9:18 pm
It’s been almost 1 year that I have continued NOT to buy any products from Israel (or companies who support Israel). I have learnt an important lesson and that is ‘we all can make an impact if we all do our bit’ spread the message and make more and more people aware of Israel is a terrorist state.
Please help me and support my blog, a few comments of support will encourage other people to visit for more information on my blog.
05/31/2010 at 5:14 pm
The blockade is shamefull, they should not be punishing civilians with the terrorists. That said, trying to run the blockade will just end in bloodshed. I wish the suffering palestinians the best, the blockade can not last forever.