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Tag Archives: agriculture
10 things that can be done to improve economic activity in Gaza
A new animated film by Gisha explores the impact of restrictions on freedom of movement on life in Gaza, particularly since 2007, through the story of Noor, an imaginary character, who encounters the owner of Al Awda, Tilbani, the Strip’s real-life Willy Wonka. Continue reading
Pressing play on a paused economy
In November 2014, Israel canceled the sweeping ban on sale of Gaza-made and grown goods in the West Bank. Against this backdrop, we gathered leading figures in five manufacturing sectors in Gaza in order to hear from them about the obstacles they face on the way to realizing their potential and about their hope for a better future. Continue reading
Anywhere but here
The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories arranges for Palestinians’ participation at a conference in Tel Aviv in order to “support the export of produce from Gaza”, while overseeing a policy that is responsible for crippling Gaza export Continue reading
The lost footnotes of COGAT’s latest report
A new report by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories is comprehensive, thorough and informative, but it tells only part of the story. Gisha conjures up the footnotes COGAT left out, which we hope will help convey a more nuanced picture of the situation. Continue reading
Numbers, meet context
A new report by COGAT looks at statistics one year after the Israeli government decided to “expand the civilian policy toward the Strip” and “ease” the closure. How do the numbers look in the wider context? Continue reading
We don't need Wikileaks to know what the closure is
It doesn’t take a Wikileaked cable to tell us that Israel’s policy towards Gaza has been one of economic warfare for the past several years, but yesterday’s article in Haaretz spelled it out again for anyone who hasn’t been paying attention. The article quotes a cable written by officials at the US… Continue reading
Strawberry Fields Forever
This week the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced the “beginning of the export season” in the Gaza Strip. “The export season” entails the continuation of a short-term program, sponsored – from planting through to distribution – by the Dutch government. The program allows a few farmers in Gaza to sell strawberries and flowers in European markets. So far this week, 7 trucks have left the Strip. As has been the case in every year since June 2007… Continue reading
Gaza Behind the Lens
With the arrival of spring, we decided to present a selection of photographs taken during the past winter in Gaza. The winter brought with it terrible storms. Restrictions on the entry of supplies made it difficult for Gaza’s infrastructure to cope. Sewage was overflowing, houses were flooded and families were forced to live without heating- all of this became a normal part of life in Gaza during the last couple of… Continue reading
Gaza’s Strawberries Taste Europe
Since the end of December 2009, 36 trucks loaded with strawberries and cut carnation flowers were permitted to leave Gaza for Israel’s Ashdod port, from which they were shipped to Europe. This is the first time since January 2008 that strawberries have managed to leave the 41 kilometer-long Strip. The flowers have been a little luckier – prior to December 2009, Israel permitted the export of 19 truckloads of flowers during the past 2.5 years of closure, mostly around Valentine’s Day. Continue reading
Leeway for Lulavs Shows Benefits of Trade
The announcement that Israel would allow lulavs to be imported from Gaza ahead of the week-long Jewish Festival of Succot was greeted with mixed feelings. Lulavs, the young shoots of palm trees used as part of the religious rituals associated with the holiday, grow abundantly in Gaza and are in great demand in Israel at this time of year. But how did a “hostile entity” suddenly become a legitimate partner for ad hoc trade? Continue reading