blockade

In Gaza, you get your change in chocolate

Sophie Team Observers — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:52:55 +0200

Photo posted on Flickr by "darranc".

Stifled by the Israeli embargo since June 2007, Gazans are so in need of essentials that they're even lacking petty cash. The half-shekel, which is worth about 10 euro cents, has almost completely disappeared.

Many things cost about a half-shekel in Gaza: a packet of tissues, a biscuit, a crayon or a pencil.

There is no official currency in the Palestinian Territories; the Israeli shekel is most commonly used. The Israelis refused to allow Palestinians to have their own currency when an economic agreement was signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1994.

The half-shekel. Image posted on Flickr by Tiffany Follett.

Obama gesture leaves Cubans hopeful but wary

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:43:20 +0200

"An open road for travel to Cuba". Front page of the Puerto Rican-based "El Nueva Dia" on Tuesday. Image: "juan787".

After 50 years of strict sanctions, Barack Obama's gesture towards Cuba on Monday will allow exiled Cubans to travel and send money to their homeland. Fidel Castro however, scoffed at the plans, saying that Obama should lift the "cruel" commercial embargo rather than hand out "charity". What do our Cuban Observers make of the news?

Gaza: Taking Egypt by storm

Julien — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:31:55 +0100

Since part of the frontier wall between the Gaza strip and Egypt was broken down on 23 January, thousands of Palestinians have poured into Egypt. Cut off from the world by a blockade enforced by Israel, the country is running out of basic commodities and has taken Egyptian trade by storm. Our Observer Wael Abbas went to the frontier; here is his account of events and a video he filmed on the scene.