News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Gaza Arabs are making money by selling to Egyptians the greenhouses that they took over from Jewish farmers in Gush Katif after the government destroyed the Jewish communities more than two years ago, according to Reuters News Agency. It quoted Gaza resident Yahma Salama as saying, "The Egyptian greenhouses aren't as strong and can collapse in the wind ... The material they use to keep the viruses off the plants also isn't as good."

Arabs in Gaza have claimed they are notable to export their produce. They are selling an entire greenhouse for $3,000. One Egyptian farmer said he bought 11 greenhouses in the past week. Jewish farmers pioneered and developed the greenhouse industry in Gaza and provided income to thousands of Gaza Arabs by employing them. After the Oslo War began in 2000, the Arab economy rapidly began to deteriorate.

The Israeli government, backed by the Bush administration, argued that the expulsion of Jews from Gaza would help revive the Arab economy by giving the local population independence.