Israel lets Gaza export flowers for first time in 3 years (Roundup)

Dec 10, 2009, 11:54 GMT

Gaza - Israel allowed Gaza Strip farmers Thursday to send a flower-laden truck through the Kerem Shalom crossing point on the border between Gaza Strip and Israel, en route to Europe, officials in the salient said.

It marked the first time in three years Israel has allowed Gaza farmers to export flowers to Europe, Ra'ed Fatouh, the goods entrance coordinator between Gaza and Israel, noted.

Palestinians had tried in February to send roses to Europe for Saint Valentine's Day, but militants fired rockets into Israel and the crossing point was closed before that convoy got through.

The trucks included 28,000 red, white and yellow roses, and Fatouh said their export 'gives hope to Palestinian farmers that they can export their products from Gaza to all over the world.'

Israel has been imposing a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip since militants snatched Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit during a cross-border raid on June 25, 2006. The siege was tightened even further after Hamas seized control of the salient in June 2007.

Fatouh said Israel opened Kerem Shalom to allow 115 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to enter the coastal enclave. The trucks also carried commercial and agricultural products.

However, he said Israel kept the Karni crossing and the Nahal Oz depot, which are entry points for fuels and cooking gas into the Gaza Strip, shut.

Israel has said the blockade cannot be lifted as long as Shalit is still held in the Gaza Strip.