Abbas and Egypt Against Lifting Naval Blockade on Gaza

 Newsblaze

In a meeting between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington last Wednesday (June 9), Abbas told the U.S. President that he opposes lifting the naval blockade in the Gaza Strip, since such a move would "bolster Hamas." Abbas stated that it should not be lifted at this stage, and any reduction of restrictions should be gradual and cautious to prevent a perceived victory for Hamas. Egypt is also in favor of maintaining the naval blockade because of arms smuggling concerns should it be lifted.[1] Iran-backed Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007 in a violent coup against the forces of the Palestinian Authority, controlled by President Abbas.[2]

Israel and the international community have repeatedly called on Hamas to renounce violence, recognize Israel, and release abducted soldier Gilad Shalit in order to ease the blockade but Hamas has refused to meet these terms.[3]

Hamas has also refused to allow new presidential and legislative elections to be held which are now overdue. A recent poll conducted by the Palestinian Center For Public Opinion in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza in March 2010 found that if new legislative elections were held, Hamas would likely lose with Fatah receiving 42 per cent of the vote while Hamas would get just 28 percent. Hamas would also lose a presidential election. The same Palestinian poll showed that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh would take 40 percent of the vote and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas would get 50 percent.[4]

Abbas also said to Obama that more goods and aid should be brought through the Israel-Gaza border crossings.[5] On Wednesday, June 9, Israel eased a number of restrictions and allowed previously banned goods to enter Gaza.[6]It was stressed that this step was part of a policy initiated over the past six months in which Israel has gradually allowed more goods to enter the territory. Since December 2009, the quantity of goods entering Gaza has increased by 20 percent and the range of items allowed in has also been expanded.[7]

Despite the pre-meditated attack by pro-Palestinian extremists against Israeli soldiers aboard the Mavi Marmara ship on May 31, which was en route to Gaza, many Israeli leaders expressed sorrow for the loss of life that resulted from the incident.[8]

"Israel regrets the loss of life," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Aharon Leshno-Yaar stated, "The results of yesterday's events are tragic and unfortunate, and Israel regrets any loss of life."[9]

On Sunday (June 13), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that former Israeli Supreme Court Justice Yaakov Tirkel would head the Israeli investigative committee which would look into the Israeli army operation to intercept the flotilla.[10]

Hamas continues to illegally hold abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. He has been held in captivity for almost four years and Hamas have denied him access to Red Cross visits, in violation of the Geneva Conventions.[11]

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[1]Ravid, Barak, "Abbas to Obama: I'm against lifting the Gaza naval blockade," Haaretz, June 13, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/abbas-to-obama-i-m-against-lifting-the-gaza-naval-blockade-1.295771

[2]"Angry Egypt says Hamas' Gaza takeover was a coup," Reuters, June 23, 2007, http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL23637408

[3]Hadid, Diaa, Karin Laub, "Ordinary Gazans hurt most by 3-year blockade," The Associated Press, June 12, 2010, http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gXp6fvvgQLELYgmlMBK-EaQ8A1WQD9G947T81

[4]"Poll Number 35," Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, Match 4, 2010, http://www.pcpsr.org/survey/polls/2010/p35e.pdf "Hamas to ban elections in Gaza," RFI, October 28, 2009, http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/118/article_5656.asp

[5]Ravid, Barak, "Abbas to Obama: I'm against lifting the Gaza naval blockade," Haaretz, June 13, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/abbas-to-obama-i-m-against-lifting-the-gaza-naval-blockade-1.295771

[6]Keinon, Herb, Yaakov Katz, and Tova Lazaroff, "Israel lets snacks, juices, spices, shaving cream into Gaza," Jerusalem Post, June 9, 2010, http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177929

[7]Keinon, Herb, Yaakov Katz, and Tova Lazaroff, "Israel lets snacks, juices, spices, shaving cream into Gaza," Jerusalem Post, June 9, 2010, http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177929

[8]"Flotilla leaders stated violence was premeditated," Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, May 31, 2010, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Hamas+war+against+Israel/Flotilla_leaders_violence_premeditated_31-May-2010.htm; "Amb Leshno Yaar addresses UN Human Rights Council," Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, June 1, 2010, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Foreign+Relations/Israel+and+the+UN/Speeches+-+statements/Amb_Leshno-Yaar_UN_Human_Rights_Council_1-Jun-2010.htm; "Close-Up Footage of Mavi Marmara Passengers Attacking IDF Soldiers," IDF Spokesperson's Unit YouTube Channel, May 31, 2010, http://www.youtube.com/user/idfnadesk#p/c/D367B77C57326D3E/2/gYjkLUcbJWo; "Flotilla Rioters Prepare Rods, Slingshots, Broken Bottles and Metal Objects to Attack IDF Soldiers," IDF Spokesperson's Unit YouTube Channel, June 2, 2010, http://www.youtube.com/user/idfnadesk#p/u/8/HZlSSaPT_OU

[9]"No Love Boat," Israel's Prime Minister's Office, June 2, 2010, http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/PMSpeaks/speechmashat020610.htm; "Amb Leshno Yaar addresses UN Human Rights Council," Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, June 1, 2010, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Foreign+Relations/Israel+and+the+UN/Speeches+-+statements/Amb_Leshno-Yaar_UN_Human_Rights_Council_1-Jun-2010.htm

[10]"Netanyahu: Gaza flotilla probe to be headed by former justice," *Haaretz, *June 13, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-gaza-flotilla-probe-to-be-headed-by-former-justice-1.295865

[11]Pfeffer, Anshel; Khoury, Jack; Issacharoff, Avi, "Local fleet sets out to counter Gaza-bound ships from Turkey" Haaretz, May 23, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/local-fleet-sets-out-to-counter-gaza-bound-ships-from-turkey-1.291599; Khoury, Jack, "Shalit's father to address UN council on son's release," Haaretz, March 17, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/news/shalit-s-father-to-address-un-council-on-son-s-release-1.264913