Israel Loosens Gaza Blockade

'Gaza can walk' says Olmert, upholding the ban on automobile fuel
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 21, 2008 4:28 PM CST
Israel Loosens Gaza Blockade
Palestinians hold candles during a demonstration against severe fuel cuts that also led to power cuts, in Gaza City, Monday Jan. 21, 2008. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Gaza's residents can 'walk, without gas for their cars,' suggesting that he won't lift the choke hold any time soon, despite...   (Associated Press)

Israel will loosen its border blockade of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, permitting an EU fuel delivery to pass through, Reuters reports. The shipment, which will allow Gaza’s main power plant to run for a week, includes diesel fuel for generators, cooking gas, and limited supplies of food and medicine. Gas for cars is still not allowed.

"As far as I'm concerned, all the residents of Gaza can walk and have no fuel for their cars, because they have a murderous terrorist regime,” said PM Ehud Olmert. Officials said there was no schedule for future shipments, which would depend on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the frequency of rocket attacks into Israel. The EU has condemned the 3-day-old blockade. (More Ehud Olmert stories.)

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