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Ramadan Easing Measures Announced by COGAT

The OQR has noted the recent announcement by COGAT of measures in honor of the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan. These are intended to improve the well-being of Palestinians by reducing some of the restrictions on their movement, improving access to basic resources and addressing constraints to economic activity.

Some of the announced Ramadan changes will improve access to sites of worship and to family connections for West Bank Palestinians. OQR is pleased that the special needs of Palestinian Muslims will be met during this special time and encourages the Government of Israel to consider extending such measures beyond the holiday period.

A number of the measures in this announcement cover commitments that were made by PM Netanyahu to Mr Blair in February of this year.

In the February package, Mr Netanyahu said that export of textiles from Gaza to international markets (destinations beyond Israel or the West Bank) would happen by April 2011. The Government of Israel’s procedures to facilitate these exports were announced by COGAT in July. Gaza exporters have not sold in these markets before and business linkages in new markets must be established before they can compete in these destinations. This is a slow and difficult process, which OQR will continue to support.  It remains critical that exports to Israel and transfer of goods to the West Bank be facilitated, as these are the primary and most accessible markets for Gazan producers.

Also in the Ramadan announcement was a reiteration of the February commitment between the Quartet Representative and PM Netanyahu to allow imports of building materials for 10 private sector factories with the oversight of  an international entity. This process is about to begin, following development of agreed procedures  by the OQR with the UN and in coordination with the PA . . Until now, only building materials (aggregates, steel reinforcing bars and cement) for international projects have been allowed through the legitimate goods crossing of Kerem Shalom, and these have remained out of reach to private sector actors through this crossing. As a first step, this pilot is important towards free import of these materials through Kerem Shalom to help revitalize the private sector.  

The GOI committed to provide 5,000 Palestinians with key residency documents under the February package.  Under this agreement, Gaza ID holders living in the West Bank were provided the opportunity to apply to Israeli authorities to have their long-standing West Bank addresses recorded as their place of residence in the population registry.  The Ramadan announcement, that 1900 names would be transferred this month, now means that 60% of the 3,700 address changes requested by the PA since February have been transferred.  This measure will reconcile the place of residence in the GOI ID system with each beneficiary’s  real, long-term residence,  It remains important that further implementation of this measure be transparent and take into account the importance of ensuring family unity.