Israel allows in Palestinian workers for first time in three months

Israel on Sunday allowed 500Palestinian workers to cross into Israel from the Gaza Strip forthe first time in three months, the Jerusalem Post reported.The Israeli army said that the Erez border crossing between Gazaand Israel was opened on Thursday, but no one showed up.Early on Sunday, hundreds of Palestinian workers crossed intoIsrael through Erez passage, the army said.

Israel has been barring Palestinian workers from entering thecountry after the killing of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh AhmedYassin on March 22 to ward off retaliatory suicide bombing attacks.The travel ban dealt a heavy blow to the poverty-ridden GazaStrip, which reportedly has a 60 percent unemployment rate.About 15,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip depend on working inIsrael to support their family.

Source: Xinhua