CAMERA Media Analysis
03 July '11
In a June 30 Ha'aretz Op-Ed entitled "Israel's violent discourse" (the online version is called "Israel has become a society of force and violence"), Gideon Levy's distorted discourse is once again on display. Revisiting his earlier untenable argument that Israel is determined to attack the peaceful flotilla participants, he resorts to falsehoods and misinformation.
No Exports?
First, he claims: "But no, Gaza is still not free -- far from it. It has no outlet to the sea or air, there are no exports." (Emphasis added.) His misleading assertion that there are "no exports" is typical Levy manipulation. According to data provided by Mohammed Skaik, the Trade Policy Specialist with PalTrade, who is responsible for all technical issues surrounding Gaza imports and export,
During the last export season (28 Nov 10 till 15 May 2011), a total of 290 truckloads including 210 truckloads (397 tonnes) of strawberry, 74 truckloads (10,668,520 stems) of cut-flower, 03 truckloads (06 tones) of sweet pepper and 03 truckload of cherry tomato (6.7 tonnes) were exported via Kerem Shalom. ("Weekly Analysis-Gaza Crossing Data from 19-25 June 2011")
While those figures are much lower than earlier years before the Gaza blockade, they nevertheless amount to more than 400 tons in less than six months. Why did the export of peppers, strawberries, carnations, and cherry tomatoes come to a halt last month, May 12? Is it because Israel has forbidden the ongoing export of these goods, as Gisha, an Israeli NGO, implies in a Jerusalem Post article today? In fact, the export of these cash crops ground to a halt because the season ended last month -- a fact confirmed in phone conversations both with Skaik as well as with Maj. Guy Inbar, the spokesman for Israel's COGAT. Furthermore, both men confirmed that plans are underway to enable the export of potatoes and regular tomatoes in the coming weeks. The Post article mentions that the plan would allow for the export of these crops directly to Jordan. Surely Levy, who travels to Stockholm where he documented flotilla preparations, can lift up the phone and speak with the Israeli and Palestinian officials dealing with Gaza. Of course he can, but that's really not the issue.
(Read full "Gideon Levy's Distorted Discourse")
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