Israel Failed to Deliver on Easing of Gaza Blockade, Says Catherine Ashton

E.U. Slams Israel's Ongoing Siege on Gaza

Tuesday November 23, 2010 10:42 by Alessandra Bajec - IMEMC & Agencies

European Union Foreign Policy Chief, Catherine Ashton, lashed out at Israel for failing to ease the blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Ashton stated that despite Israeli vows to the International community, the Gaza Strip remains under strict siege and closure.

In June, Israel vowed to loosen its siege on the coastal enclave in response to the international outcry after its commandos killed, on May 31, nine Turkish activists who were trying to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

"Gaza remains a source of great concern for me...at the present time, we think that what's is happening is unsatisfactory, the volume of goods allowed into Gaza is not increasing to the urgently needed level," Ashton stated while speaking on behalf of all EU Foreign Ministers.

Ashton also urged Israel to allow exports out of Gaza and to allow construction materials into the coastal region, and added that the United Nations Refugees & Works Agency (UNRWA) needs construction materials to rebuild schools, bombarded by Israel during the war. She pointed out that the economy needs to be allowed to recover, and the people must be allowed to invest in their future.

The EU's top foreign policy official also voiced concern over the failure of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, especially after the settlement freeze expired in September, and Israel presented new plans for massive settlement construction and expansion in the occupied territories.

EU: Israel failed to deliver on easing of Gaza blockade

Published yesterday (updated) 23/11/2010 14:46

BRUSSELS (DPA) --

Israel has failed to live up to its commitments on easing the blockade on the Gaza strip, the European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Monday.

Israel pledged to loosen its grip on the Palestinian enclave in June, reacting to the international outcry caused by its at-sea shooting in late May of nine Turkish activists, who were trying to break the blockade.

But five months on, Ashton said there were not enough goods flowing in to meet the humanitarian and reconstruction needs of the territory, which is ruled by Hamas, the radical group classed as a terrorist organization by the EU and the United States.

"Gaza remains a source of great concern for me ... at the present time, we think that what's happened with Gaza is unsatisfactory, the volume of goods is not increasingly as significantly as it needs to," she said, speaking on behalf of all EU foreign ministers.

She also urged Israel to allow exports out of Gaza and to let in construction material that the local United Nations agency (UNRWA) wants to use to rebuild schools.

"It is absolutely essential that the economy is allowed to recover and that people are allowed to invest in their futures," Ashton pointed out.

The EU's top foreign policy official spoke as Israeli-Palestinian peace talks remained in limbo, following the expiry in September of an Israeli freeze on new settlement activity on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

"Not surprisingly there is a lot of concern with the current lack of progress and with the ongoing settlement activities," Ashton commented.

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