(Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies-Bar-Ilan University) Prof. Hillel Frisch - The massive political divide between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas might be transforming into a mutual economic siege. The Economic Ministry in Gaza has announced a ban on the importation of milk products from the West Bank, ostensibly to protect the local industry. The announcement also exposes the lie about Israel's presumed siege on Gaza. If Israel has imposed an economic siege on Gaza, how can there be importation of dairy products from the West Bank into Gaza - let alone over 400 other items? If there are Israeli restrictions on imports into Gaza, they are limited to products and materials used by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist organizations against Israel. Israel enjoys cooperation in science, industry, and commerce with scores of states. It would be more than willing to include the Palestinians as well. The writer is a professor of political and Middle East studies at Bar-Ilan University and a senior research associate at its BESA Center.
2021-01-07 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive