Many of you Coriander as simply a herb. But then, you probably are not hip to the latest on international security. Israel must have a reason for denying Coriander into Gaza. Perhaps Hamas has the means to threaten Israel and maybe all of Western Civilization with a Coriander Bomb!?!
The Defense Ministry is refusing - on security grounds, it says - to reveal why Israel prohibits the import into the Gaza Strip of items such as cilantro, sage, jam, chocolate, french fries, dried fruit, fabrics, notebooks empty flowerpots and toys, while allowing cinnamon, plastic buckets and combs. - Amira Hass
Some people do not appreciate the military strategic significance of Cilantro and Coriander. I happen to be one of them.
But in its response to a freedom-of-information suit last week, the state did admit, for the first time, that there is specific list of permissible goods.
The suit, filed in the Tel Aviv administrative court by Gisha: Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, sought to clarify the criteria and procedures the authorities use to determine what goods to allow into Gaza. It was filed after Gazans began claiming that commercial interests inside Israel, and their lobbying power, were determining the permitted items.
Evidently, Nutmeg is another item of strategic significance. (Hey, no wonder Reagan invaded Grenada!)
Here is a list from Gisha human rights group:
Prohibited Items*
sage cardamom cumin coriander ginger jam halva vinegar
nutmeg chocolate fruit preserves seeds and nuts biscuits and sweets
potato chips gas for soft drinks dried fruit plaster tar for construction cement chicks
more here
Thursday, May 6, 2010 – After 12 months of unsuccessful attempts by Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement to obtain documentation from the Israeli authorities about Israel's policy concerning the entry of food and other goods into the Gaza Strip, and after claiming for many months that no such documents exist, Israel has finally admitted that it does indeed possess the information requested by Gisha, including a list of goods whose admission into the Gaza Strip is permitted. Following a petition submitted by Gisha under the Freedom of Information Act, and as a result of the Tel Aviv District Court's rejection of the State's claim that it had already provided all relevant information, the State last week submitted its response to the court. In this response the State apologized for "inaccurate statements made to the court", that it claimed were the result of a misunderstanding and admitted to the existence of four primary documents. Following this admission, however, the State refused to disclose the contents of the documents. It argued that, despite not previously raising such an objection, disclosure of the documents "...would harm national security and foreign relations". Gisha today filed its response to the court.
...
"It is not clear why Israel, instead of promoting transparency, chooses to invest so many resources in the attempt to conceal information", said Adv. Tamar Feldman of Gisha, who wrote the petition. "How is the disclosure that Israel forbids the entry of sage and ginger, yet allows in cinnamon, related to security needs? It is also hard to imagine how disclosing this information would harm Israel's foreign relations, unless the State is equating fear of harm to Israel's image with fear of harm to its foreign relations".
- Gisha website
The world needs to break this blockade. Human rights groups, humanitarian groups around the world have documented the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. more than 90% of the water is simply not drinkable, because Israel disallows the building material to fix water treatment plants damaged in the war. Homes are not being re-built, because building supplies are not allowed into Gaza.
Later this month, the Israeli blockade will be directly challenged by hundreds of ordinary people.
Nobel winner to join Gaza effort
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
A Nobel prize winning peace campaigner is to join 600 activists and parliamentarians in the latest attempt to bring tonnes of supplies through the blockade of Gaza.
Mairead Maguire, who was detained by Israeli authorities for one week before being deported during the last mission, will be part of an eight ship flotilla to Palestine at the end of the month.
Irish ship, the MV Rachel Corrie, aims to breach the port blockade and bring in medical, educational and building supplies.
...
"This is the voice of the non-violent saying to the Israeli Government this is not acceptable, we have to end this blockade," Ms Maguire said.
....
It is not normal to deny clean drinking water to millions of people. It is not normal to deny a whole people the right to fish off their own coast. It is not normal to deny a people a right to live. The people who will be breaking the blockade are doing what normal people do when there is a humanitarian crisis, which is sharing and expressing concern and showing solidarity.
Let's support them.
UPDATE:
Report: Israel training to block Freedom Fleet
Bethlehem - Ma'an - Israel's naval forces are allegedly in training to prepare to seize eight boats scheduled to dock in the Gaza Strip on 24 May from Europe, Arabic-language media reported on Wednesday.
"About half of the Israeli naval forces will participate in an operation that was approved by the cabinet. [Israeli] Defense Minister Ehud Barak will supervise the operation," an Israeli official told the Arabic-language satellite TV station Al-Hurra.
An Israeli security source told Ma'an that authorities will prevent the arrival of the boats "at any price."
Maan