Mubarak: We'll open Gaza crossing only if Abbas' PA takes control of it

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Tuesday that his government will not fully open its crossing into the Gaza Strip unless Mahmoud Abbas' Palestinian Authority is in control of the border post.

The speech Tuesday from Mubarak came despite criticism of Egypt in the Arab world over its refusal over the past year to open the Rafah crossing, which has helped complete an Israeli blockade of the territory.

Since Israel's offensive in Gaza began Saturday, Egypt has allowed some wounded to cross from Gaza for treatment and some humanitarian supplies to enter the territory.

But Egypt resists dealing with the Islamic militant Hamas because it opposes the militant group's 2007 takeover of the Gaza Strip and insists Abbas is the legitimate Palestinian leader."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051238.html

[Vegasaurus]

1. This is an AP story too

Why won't the Arab world actually help their poor pathetic brethren in Gaza?

Instead, they just have huge demonstrations to inflame emotions, but don't do anything substantive to help.

[notesdev]

4. Because they know their history

and a lot better than people in the West. Despite what some like to believe, the Palestinians have caused trouble for a lot more than just the Israelis.

[Vegasaurus]

5. Which is why the Egyptian police shot at them when they breached the wall before

and then again just a couple days ago.

The Egyptians don't want the Palestinian problem either.

Nor do the Lebanese, Iraqi, Jordanians...

But for some reason, the Israelis get the little gift of the Palestinian problem.

[notesdev]

6. You can add to that list

the Kuwaitis and the Syrians, at the minimum. Saudis too, probably, that huge expanse of land they have that sits empty, never once having offered the smallest sliver.

The other Arabs use the Palestinians as the tip of the spear in their quest to destroy Israel. And if not for that purpose, the other Arabs would kill the Palestinians themselves if they could.

[ellisonz]

7. For the Arab states, it's more about tempering their own Islamist movements at home...

There are an enormous amount of Palestinians in Jordan.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. I think another thing is

that the corrupt Arab governments want to keep their people distracted so that they won't be overthrown. The Palestinians and Israel provide this distraction.

[bunnies]

9. "For some reason" ROFLMAO

No way you could say that with a straight face. "for some reason, the Israelis get the little gift of the Palestinian problem."

That is the single most intellectually dishonest thing I've ever read on DU. Congratulations.

[breakaleg]

12. Kick - this needs to be seen.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. It makes one wonder if the Egyptians really care about the

Palestinian people, or if they only serve as a handy diversion so that Egyptians don't protest their own government.

[Vegasaurus]

3. NO ONE in the ARAB WORLD cares about the Palestininans

NO one.

They are political pawns and scapegoats to continue to inflame hatred across the whole world.

The Arab world wants to keep the conflict going as long as possible.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. Nothing to wonder about, none of the Arab and Muslim nations care one whit about Palestinians

Been that way for quite some time. They have been using them as disposable proxies and tools to bleed for them and little else.

[bemildred]

10. Report: Rafah crossing closed for fear of air strike

The Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip has been closed for fear of an Israeli air strike in the area, the al-Jazeera network reported. (Roee Nahmias)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3647426,00.html

[Scurrilous]

13. IAF pummels Hamas smuggling tunnels

<snip>

"IAF aircraft on Tuesday evening were bombing smuggling tunnels along the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt. Earlier, Al Jazeera reported that Egypt had closed the border crossing at Rafah for fear of an impending Israeli air strike.

The army confirmed that it was striking tunnels along the border.

Channel 10 reported that "many" jets were participating in the second wave of attacks on tunnels along the Gaza Egypt border near Rafah since Operation Cast Lead began on Saturday."

more

[bemildred]

16. Israeli bombs Gaza smuggling tunnels (Extra)

Tel Aviv - Israeli fighter jets flew another sortie over the southern Gaza Strip's border with Egypt around sunset Tuesday, bombing a series of smuggling tunnels, military officials said.

Already earlier in its air campaign against Hamas which was launched on Saturday, the Israeli army said it had destroyed as many as 40 tunnels in a matter of minutes as planes dropped bombs on them.

The vast network of tunnels under the border town of Rafah is used to smuggle goods and weapons into the strip, circumventing a tight Israeli blockade.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) meanwhile denied reports that it had advised the Israeli government to observe a 48-hour unilateral ceasefire before continuing the offensive, and study Hamas' reaction.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1450838.php/Israeli_bombs_Gaza_smuggling_tunnels__Extra__

[bemildred]

11. Solana: opening of Gaza crossing points should be done with cooperation of European Union.

MADRID - EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana Tuesday called for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and for the opening of crossing points to war-battered Gaza.

We must "have a cease-fire as quickly as possible, which is fundamental, and the crossings must be opened to allow humanitarian aid to pass," he told Spanish National Radio.

Solana is to take part in the emergency meeting in Paris of European Union foreign ministers later Tuesday, which is to make an appeal for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

"The formula that we are working on and on which we must insist is based on three fundamental points: the first is an immediate cease-fire, the second is the opening up of crossing points between Gaza and Egypt and Gaza and Israel," and "the third, the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid," he said.

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=29451

This is actually relevant, since the absence of EU monitors is one of the primary "reasons" for Rafah being kept closed.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. This should surprise no one

And may be the death knell to Hamas's control in Gaza