41.   Those economic issues include efforts to ease the Israeli closure of certain Palestinian areas that prevents Palestinian laborers from freely passing into Israel to work.

42.   Saeed Mudallal, who liaises with Israel for permits, said the Israeli closure had been scheduled to run from midnight Thursday until midnight Sunday.

43.   Severe cases of malnutrition are on the rise among Gaza children aggravated by poverty and the Israeli closure of the Strip, a Swiss aid organisation fears.

44.   The Israeli closure shut out thousands of Palestinians to thwart possible attacks during the Jewish Passover holiday.