Israel Imports Gaza Grown Vegetables for 1st Time Since 2007

Vegetables grown by Palestinian farmers in Gaza entered Israel on Thursday for the first time since 2007, according to Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories.

This is part of COGAT’s effort to promote the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip

The first phase will include 25 tons of tomatoes and five tons of eggplants, with future stages including a wider variety of vegetables and increasing in number to between 1, 000 and 1, 500 tons per month, with each ton valued at around 3, 000 shekels ($745).

COGAT said it has “advanced the marketing of agricultural products from Gaza to Judea and Samaria in order to assist the Gazan economy.”

Three truckloads of tomatoes and eggplants were allowed through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing.

Israel announced last week it would allow Gaza to export produce, both to help its farmers and to satisfy the religious needs of Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jews on the shmitta year, when Jewish farmers are restricted in growing produce in Israel.