“Ending the Gaza Blockade Might Help Israel as Much as Gaza”
Ending the Gaza blockade would be beneficial to Israel politically, economically, and help them to recover a tarnished reputation. After the fiasco of the flotilla, ending the enforced border restrictions would help Israel from facing continued “intensely negative world opinion”. In addition, the blockade serves to empower Hamas rather than weaken it. Even an unpopular power such as Hamas, explains Eland, can become a rallying point from an outside aggressor such as Israel. Furthermore, Israel economically hurts it’s own labor markets by not allowing citizens from Gaza to work in Israel. Also, the blockade hurts trade, not just for those living in the restricted zones but in Israel too, as it is unable to profit from the competitive advantages of their neighbor. Finally, Ivan points out that removing the blockade would also remove a motivation for local Islamic radicalism saying, “Israel should dismantle all aspects of its counterproductive blockade, not just relax a ban on imports. Increased commerce among Gazans and among Gaza, Israel, and the world would undermine the Islamic radicalism on which Hamas prospers.”
