Egypt: Gaza blockade a failure, border stays open

[FarCenter]

Monday, June 7, 2010
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt – The Associated Press
An Egyptian security official declared the blockade of Gaza a failure Monday and said his country will keep its border with the Palestinian territory open indefinitely.

Keeping that crossing point open long term would seriously undercut Israel's efforts to isolate and punish Gaza's Hamas rulers and give the Palestinians back a crucial link to the outside the world.

Egypt opened its border with Gaza soon after Israel's deadly raid on an international flotilla of activists trying to break the blockade last week. In another escalation of tension off Gaza's shores Monday, Israeli naval forces shot and killed four men wearing wet suits off the coast, and the militant group Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades said they were members of its marine unit training for a mission.

<SNIP>

The official said Israel is now under pressure to at least open all its land crossings with Gaza. Egypt will keep its border crossing at the town of Rafah open indefinitely but will not allow large cargo or shipments of construction material through because the terminal is designed primarily to be a civilian passage, the official said.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=egypt-gaza-blockade-a-failure-border-stays-open-2010-06-07

[Catherina]

1. "but will not allow large cargo or shipments of construction material through "+

"but will not allow large cargo or shipments of construction material through "


END THE BLOCKADE!

[liberal_at_heart]

5. I second that. End the blockade!

[Ozymanithrax]

2. Egypt has done something smart. Very good. n/t

[Scurrilous]

3. Good on them.

:thumbsup:

[UndertheOcean]

4. Good ! some relief for the imprisoned people of Gaza.

[aquart]

6. Yep. They could have done this any day at all.

Instead they were building a wall and blowing up tunnels.

PALESTINIAN WIN!

I have no idea why they think Israel should open its own borders, though. Palestinians haven't blown up anything in Egypt but they have in Israel.

I favor open borders with Egypt and lots of close interpersonal relations with the Palestinians.

That crap about "civilian passage," though? Construction materials aren't civilian? I wonder why they would think that.

[JDPriestly]

7. Egypt has a lot to fear from Gaza. Everybody does.

There are no doubt some wonderful people in Gaza. But it is governed by violent extremists who were chosen by the people of Gaza.

Allowing building materials into Gaza is a danger not only to Israel but also to Egypt and the entire region. DUers need to get a little more realistic about what is going on in Gaza and what Hamas is about.

[Heywood J]

8. Yeah, I mean allowing people to rebuild their homes and shops...

that would be horrible. Gazans have to live somewhere, and the Israelis destroy buildings there on a daily basis. Where do you propose they live - tents? On the street? Where do you propose they work?

[Mudoria]

9. Shouldn't be long before the weapons start pouring through...