January 5, 2011
WikiLeaks: Israel kept Gaza economy ‘on brink’
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Israel told the United States in 2008 that it planned to keep Gaza’s economy “on the brink of collapse,” according to a diplomatic cable obtained by WikiLeaks.
The cable, one of three on the topic from the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv to Washington, said that “As part of their overall embargo plan against Gaza, Israeli officials have confirmed to (U.S. embassy economic officers) on multiple occasions that they intend to keep the Gazan economy on the brink of collapse without quite pushing it over the edge.”
Israel said it would keep Gaza’s economy “functioning at the lowest level possible consistent with avoiding a humanitarian crisis,” according to a Nov. 3, 2008 cable.
Beginning last May, Israel relaxed the blockade on Gaza, though aid organizations say it is not enough.
The cables were made public Wednesday in the Norwegian daily newspaper Aftenposten, which says it has all 250,000 U.S. cables leaked to WikiLeaks.
