JERUSALEM - Israel must provide more freedom of movement in the West Bank and open crossings into Gaza to avoid driving even more Palestinians into poverty after Hamas seized the coastal strip two months ago, the United Nations Mideast envoy said Wednesday. Israel’s decision to shut Gaza’s borders to all but humanitarian aid in the wake of Hamas’ takeover is threatening an already badly damaged economy-and “this shows every sign of getting worse,” Michael Williams said in an interview with The Associated Press and two other media outlets. “We do not see how that can be changed short of opening additional crossing points, particularly Karni,” Williams said, referring to Gaza’s main cargo crossing with Israel.Earlier this month, the U.N. warned that Gaza soon will become entirely dependent on foreign aid and face “disastrous consequences” if the Hamas-run territory remains sealed off. A Palestinian business group warned that at least 120,000 more Gazans could lose their jobs. ...Williams praised Israel’s recent release of Palestinian prisoners and transfer of millions of dollars in frozen tax funds to Abbas’ government. But Williams said he is “concerned that we haven’t seen further steps,” and urged Israel to release more prisoners and dismantle illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank.“An elementary constituent of economic development is freedom of movement, and to a very considerable extent that does not exist in the West Bank,” he said.
As in the days of Noah....