BICOM

Israel further eased restrictions in Gaza yesterday when it permitted the first truckload of cherry tomatoes destined for Europe to pass through Israel to be shipped from the Ashdod Port. In November 2010, Israel began easing the restrictions of exports from Gaza. An Israeli statement said that since November, 184 truckloads of strawberries, carnations and peppers have been exported from Gaza via Israel and to Europe.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Coordinator of Government Activity in the Territories Guy Inbar said that the Karni crossing between Gaza and Israel is operating two days a week as a transit point for products entering and exiting Gaza and that most of the operations had moved across to the Kerem Shalom crossing. Inbar added that moving operations to Kerem Shalom in southern Gaza would increase operational production of employees because it will be open all week.