Blockade eased - Israel must offer Gaza a ray of hope

IF the entirely justified international outcry that followed the May 31 killing of nine unarmed Turkish citizens on the Mavi Marmara was the catalyst for Israel’s decision to ease the land blockade on Gaza then some small good has come from the tragedy.

However, anything more than an initial welcome must be deferred until the promise is made real. Israel has a very poor record of observing commitments to the international community and an even poorer one on recognising the rights of Palestinians.

It would be reassuring to imagine that Israel has at last tempered its aggressive zealotry with the knowledge that it cannot expect to ignore the rules societies observe if they wish to be considered civilised.