UN Middle East envoy Alvaro de Soto’s “End of Mission Report” (.pdf) and official UN reaction to the leaking of it is covered by Rory McCarthy and Ian Williams for the Guardian.
The effect of the boycott was to seriously damage the Palestinian economy and promote radicalism. It also lifted pressure from Israel. “With all focus on the failings of Hamas, the Israeli settlement enterprise and barrier construction has continued unabated,” he writes.
The US, he argues, was clearly pushing for a confrontation between Fatah and Hamas but Washington misjudged Mr Abbas, who he argues had wanted to co-opt rather than defeat Hamas. Fighting between Fatah and Hamas has intensified in recent months. He quotes an unnamed US official as saying earlier this year: “I like this violence … It means that other Palestinians are resisting Hamas.” Since December at least 600 Palestinians have been killed in factional battles.
(hat tip)
14.6.2007
The Israeli army and other authorities in charge of exit from and entry into Gaza have today closed all passages and crossings from Gaza into Israel, to both goods and people, including Erez Crossing (both directions) and Karni Crossing.The reason given: the apparent success of Hamas in the battles in Gaza, and their assumption of control over all centers of governance in the Gaza Strip.
Rafah Crossing into Egypt has been closed since the 13th of May 2007, when hostilities were renewed within the Gaza Strip.
As a result, passage of medical personnel, sick and wounded people and essential goods is completely blocked.
PHR-Israel has issued an urgent demand (see below) to the Israeli authorities to re-open the crossings or otherwise enable access of the sick and wounded to medical care in Israel, as well as entry of essential goods into the Gaza Strip. International attention is urgently sought.