The Gaza Strip has begun to export strawberries and flowers to markets in Europe, according to a report by the Coordinator of Government Activities in Judea and Samaria.

A spokesperson for coordinator Major-General Eitan Dangot said on Sunday that the new export project for strawberries and flowers is part of a wider project that is being managed by the Administration of Coordination and Liason Gaza strawberriesalongside Gazan farmers, and is being funded by the Government of Holland.

As part of the project it has been made possible to export approximately 2.5 tons of strawberries and 2,000 flowers to the European markets via the Kerem Shalom crossing. In order to facilitate the export project, numerous agricultural products are imported to the Gaza Strip each year in order to grow carnations.

Last week, Dangot said during a meeting with a visiting Italian minister that by mid-2011 Israel will allow Gaza to export even more goods through Israeli crossings. The move would be likely to significantly boost exports, bringing new money to Hamas coffers.

Dangot's revelation came as IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held by Hamas since 2006, remains captive, and as terrorism from Gaza continues. Terrorists have recently stepped up their attacks, firing on the city of Ofakim for the first time since the Cast Lead counterterror operation in early 2009, and using white phosphorus in rockets launched at Israeli civilians.

Dangot reported that Israel has significantly relaxed its policy on imports to Gaza. While Israel initially allowed only humanitarian aid to enter the region from Israel following the violent takeover by Hamas, today approximately 250 trucks enter the region every day bearing a wide variety of goods, and everything but weapons, material that aids in rocket launching and dual-purpose goods is allowed through.

The spokesperson for Dangot highlighted on Sunday that since the beginning of the year, 78 projects have been approved with the funding and supervision of the international community and with the approval of the Palestinian Authority. There has been a particular stress on projects in the field of education, health and infrastructure. 64 of the 78 projects were approved after the Israeli Cabinet's decision of June 2010.

via israelnn.com