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Palestinian Arabs

PA sabotaging own economy

'Palestinians' refuse to use alternative Gaza crossing


By Ryan Jones
March 01, 2006

The Palestinian Authority Tuesday rejected an Israeli offer to use an alternative exit point from the Gaza Strip for local agricultural goods after Israel was forced to close northern Gaza's Karni Crossing amid security concerns.

Jerusalem agreed upon withdrawing from Gaza last summer to keep Karni open, but a failed attempt by terrorists to tunnel under and bomb the facility last month led to what is now a three-week closure.  Southern Gaza's smaller, more easily protected Kerem Shalom Terminal was proposed as a temporary substitute, which was promptly turned down by the Abbas regime.

Senior Israeli officials accused the PA of attempting to further tarnish the Jewish state's image at the expense of its own people, noting the politically-motivated decision will damage the Gaza economy and prevent the import of staple products.

But chief PA negotiator Saeb Erekat told The Jerusalem Post Israel is the culprit:

"We are worried that this will become permanent.  I really urge the Israelis to stick to the agreement."

Israeli officials, however, say it is the PA that is not sticking to the agreement by its ongoing failure to prevent Gaza-based terrorist attacks on nearby Jewish communities.  Nearly 500 rockets and mortar shells have been fired from Gaza at Western Negev towns since the start of this year.

Indeed, the PA has failed for more than 10 years - since signing the "Oslo Accords" - to honor its primary peace obligation to curb and eliminate the scourge of Islamic anti-Jewish violence emanating from areas under its control.

Israel says Kerem Shalom is a workable and instantly available solution.

According to Lt.-Col. Michael Cirulnik, who is in charge of coordinating financial issues between Israel and Gaza:

"The proposal to open Kerem Shalom and alleviate the situation can be implemented immediately... We have stressed to [the PA] that the crossing is capable of dealing with twoway traffic."

Cirulnik said local Arab businessmen and farmers support using Kerem Shalom, and concur with Israel that the PA is hurting its own people.

The officer recalled a recent telling conversation with a senior PA figure:

"When I asked a PA official what will happen when fresh dairy products run out in Gaza, he told me he was not concerned as his son drinks milk every day."

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