Israel sees upside in hole in Gaza wall

[bemildred]

Jerusalem - When Palestinians toppled a metal wall separating the Gaza Strip from Egypt Wednesday, many expected Israeli officials to howl over Egypt allowing Hamas "terrorists" to rearm. After all, a cornerstone of the current peace process was supposed to be isolating Gaza.

But the Israeli response has been surprisingly muted. In fact, some Israeli officials see some advantage in the breach.

Israel, which occupied the Gaza Strip in 1967, has since then clamored, intermittently and often privately, for Egypt to assume greater responsibility for the impoverished coastal strip, or even for Cairo to take control of Gaza. By breaking down the wall and sending Egypt a tidal wave of people pressed to stock up on everyday necessities, Hamas militants – who have been planning the break for weeks, according to local media reports – may have inadvertently brought Israel closer to this goal.

At the same time, the sight of thousands of Palestinians streaming south, keen to stock up on food and fuel, and the international criticism over a building humanitarian crisis calls into question whether the recent push to isolate Hamas as part of a US-sponsored peace process has a realistic chance of success.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080125/ts_csm/ocycle

[tekisui]

1. Thanks for all the updates from the region, bemildred.

:hi:

BTW, do you know why Israel/Palestine Posts cannot be recommended?

[bemildred]

2. They like to keep the I/P flame wars down here in the dungeon.

Having been here in the old days, I concur with that judgement, although it is not the ideal one would wish for.

[tekisui]

3. Thanks. I have often wondered.

It seems like some situations would call for these stories to be seen by more eyes, but civility matters.

[bemildred]

4. It was amazing. In fact it still is amazing.

There are a number of other subjects that get similar treatment for similar reasons, so it's not like I/P was singled out. In fact they struggled with the issue for a long time before resolving on the present arrangement.