Gaza Juice Maker Asks Protection From Competitors as Israel Eases Blockade
Can anyone figure the logic in the following? The blockade has restricted employment so the easing of the blockade should be resisted so that those who have taken advantage of it can remain employed. Hamas economics at its best.//
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“Now, as Israel relaxes its restrictions, the company has joined fellow manufacturers including Pepsi-Cola bottlers Yazegi Group in demanding that Hamas protect local industries and refuse imports of juice, soda and snack foods. Officials of the Islamic movement have heeded the calls and are barring entry of such items as Israeli grapefruit juice and potato chips.
“The policy of the government is to protect and maintain local products and industry and employ a large number of workers who have no job due to the siege,” Ziad Zaza, the Hamas economy minister, said in an e-mailed response to questions about the restrictions on Israeli goods.”