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Allowing exports would provide welcome boost for people in Gaza, says Ambassador Grappo

The Office of the Quartet Representative said on Tuesday that while serious day-to-day and long-term hardships remain for the population of Gaza, there have been encouraging signs of progress in Gaza since June and that now is the time for Israel to take more significant steps on imports and especially on exports to address these hardships.

Noting some of the  recent increases in the range and volume of goods going into Gaza, Ambassador Gary A. Grappo, Head of Mission for the Office of the Quartet Representative in Jerusalem, said: "Tony Blair welcomes the efforts made by the Government of Israel to improve access to Gaza after June,  but he has continually  urged the GoI  to take further steps."

Mr Blair and his Jerusalem-based office continue to work towards improving the situation for the general population of the Gaza Strip.

Some of the improvements so far include: :

• Expanding the  facilities and capacity of the Kerem Shalom crossing. In November, the daily average of goods into Gaza (through both Kerem Shalom and Karni) reached just over 200 truckloads per day, up from less than 100 per day in early 2010.

• Allowing the entry of construction material for some of the projects of international organizations such as UNRWA and USAID.

• Increasing business trips of business people from around 20 people per week in June 2010 to 250 per week in November.

Looking ahead, Mr Blair has identified additional important measures to improve the welfare and standard of living of the people of  Gaza :

• Permitting exports of manufactured goods and agricultural products of all types as the markets demand.

• Increasing the daily processing capacity of the systems at the goods crossings.

• Accelerating the process for entry of construction materials for international projects, given that the rate of progress on those projects already underway is being slowed by access difficulties and that more projects will come on stream soon.

• Improving access for all individuals, particularly individuals who can contribute to economic recovery and the strengthening of Gaza’s civil society.

• Facilitating the rehabilitation and further development of water, sanitation, communication and energy infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

• Establishment of an evolving programme for the entry of construction materials for selected private sector building rehabilitation and construction projects, beginning with an initial phase , and then expanding to full-entry of such goods.

Ambassador Grappo stated that the most pressing of all of these at present are boosting exports and increasing imports for the construction industry. "The economy in Gaza relies on construction, light manufacturing and agriculture and, therefore, needs to be able to export for sustainability. Importing construction materials, and exporting goods of nearly any type can be managed in a way that ensures Israel's legitimate security concerns."

Mr Blair is continuing efforts not only to expand Gaza exports to all relevant markets without restriction but also to open import of construction materials for the legitimate private construction sector in Gaza

Ambassador Grappo added that any constraints on movement of goods in or out of Gaza is an incentive to the smugglers who operate tunnels between Gaza and Egypt.

"Although the tunnel economy has been significantly reduced in terms of imports since June, we have reliable information that the tunnels are now being used for export to Egypt, a further indication of the need for legitimate export routes", said Ambassador Grappo.