Israel ready to ease entry of goods into Gaza: EU diplomat

Israel has indicated that it is prepared to ease the entry of goods into the Palestinian Gaza Strip at one or two crossings, an EU diplomat said on Monday.

Israel is showing willingness to significantly ease its blockade of the Gaza Strip in the wake of international concern prompted by a recent commando attack on an aid flotilla, the diplomat said.

"The indications we are getting from Israel is that they are willing to go from a positive to a negative list," the diplomat said, referring to a change from a list of allowed items to a list of banned items, with many more ordinary goods previously banned allowed to go through.

The early indications were that this could happen at "one or two crossings" into the Gaza Strip, namely Karni and Kerem Shalom.

Middle East envoy Tony Blair was in Luxembourg, to meet with EU foreign ministers holding talks there, and was expected to announce details later in the day.