By noreply@blogger.com (Elder of Ziyon)
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donkeyrock shared this story from  Elder Of Ziyon – Israel News.
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There is no reason whatsoever to “reopen the crossings” because Kerem Shalom can handle all of Gaza’s import and export needs.
In fact, Kerem Shalom can handle more goods than all of the closed crossings ever could – combined.
Crossings such as Nahal Oz and Karni were closed over the years because they weren’t secure. Those crossings were a tempting for terrorists to attack. They can never re-open.
But Kerem Shalom – a hugely expansive and extraordinarily impressive feat of engineering and logistics – was sized to handle all of Gaza’s needs if necessary. And it can do it without risking any Israeli lives (a forthcoming post will go into more detail.)
Here are all the limits of imports and exports to and from Gaza from what I learned today:
Besides a small list of “dual use” materials, Israel imposes no restrictions on Gaza imports. Even some of the “dual use” materials can be imported under certain conditions – for example, international NGOs can import construction materials. Israel allows potentally dual use items, such as CO2, to be imported on a case by case basis as well.
Some said that Gaza did not have adequate pumps to handle the flooding because of Israeli restrictions. Nonsense. I asked specifically if water pumps are a “dual use” item and they are not. This was Gaza’s government not being prepared, and nothing to do with the “blockade.”
If needed, Kerem Shalom can run on three shifts, 24/7. But today there isn’t the demand.
All Gaza imports are arranged between Gaza businessmen and NGOs, and Israeli or other suppliers. If Gazans needs more, they can buy it. There are no practical limits on how much Gaza can import even if its economy grew dramatically. No limits on fuel. No limits on raw materials for factories (again, except dual use materials.)
Kerem Shalom is building new pipelines for fuel, and increasing capacity of existing pipelines, in anticipation of a potential dramatic increase of demand as a result of Egypt’s closure of Gaza. Right now, because of Hamas and PA infighting, the demand is not there and Kerem Shalom is not using close to its full capacity for fuel.
There are also no limits imposed by Israel on how much Gaza can export. Really.
After Hamas took over Gaza, Israel decided not to import goods from Gaza anymore – for good reason. Israel also limits exports to PA administered areas before the peace process gets moving again. …read more
Source: Donkeyrock_BlurBlog
