Israel will publish on Monday its official "black list" of goods that will not be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip, weeks after dramatically easing its land blockade of the coastal territory.
The list, which will be released by the Foreign Ministry, will mainly include weapons and "problematic dual use" material that could be used to create them. Any items not listed will be permitted to enter Gaza.
The publication of the list on the eve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington demonstrates Israel's hope to show some sign of progress with regard to its ease of the blockade.
The list was compiled after days of consultation between the Prime Minister's Office, the Defense Ministry and the coordinator of government activities in the Palestinian territories. The White House has already seen the list and given Israel a green light for its publication. "The Americans saw the list and they are satisfied," said a senior Israeli official.
Over the past two weeks, the easing of the embargo has allowed grocers to fill their shelves with cornflakes, cakes, biscuits, shampoo and razor blades supplied through the Kerem Shalom crossing to Gaza.
Like most items, these goods were available, if expensive, from black marketeers who have been filling the supply gap by bringing in merchandise through tunnels from Egypt, Gaza's main supply route for the past two years.
Under its previous policy, Israel banned all but a list of permitted goods.