Sunday, February 03, 2008

Chaos Continues at Gaza-Egypt Border

Avi Tuchmayer

More than a week after Hamas terrorists blew apart the border fence separating Gaza from Egypt, the Gaza-Egypt border remains on Friday little more than a line in the sand, as Egyptian, PLO and Hamas leaders, as well as top Israeli officials, continue to bicker about restoring international norms to the border crossing. nternational media reported Thursday that Egyptian forces would seal the border "soon," but said that it was inclement weather that kept local many Arabs from wandering between Gaza and Egypt in recent days. Fox News reported that Egyptian soldiers prevented automobile traffic from Gaza, but said individuals were free to cross the border on foot at will.

Since the current crisis began on January 23 Israeli politicians have expressed concern that the open border would facilitate weapons smuggling into Hamas-occupied Gaza. In addition, it could enable Gaza terror squads to cross over into Sinai and reemerge elsewhere in Sinai or on the southern Israeli border, in order to carry out terror attacks. These could be directed against Jewish civilians in Israel and on vacation in Sinai resort towns such as El Arish.

Security officials in Jerusalem said the breach has led to the introduction of thousands of rifles, ammunition, explosive material and more into Gaza since January 23.

Friday, Egyptian security forces said they apprehended 12 armed Gazans in Sinai. They said the individuals, including two Hamas members and two Islamic Jihad members, planned to attack Jewish tourists in the peninsula. All but two members of the terrorist cell are believed to have come from Gaza. The remaining pair came to Egypt from the Gulf states.

Who will control the border?

Sealing the border has developed into a four-way dispute between Israel, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has long insisted that Israel must maintain control of the international border, a demand rejected by both PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas strongman Ismail Haniyeh. But Olmert changed course last week, saying Israel would support PA control of the Rafiah crossing.

This may pave the way for a solution which involves joint control of the crossing by the PA and Hamas. Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader told the Arabic television network Al Jazeera Friday that his organization "is not against sharing control of the Rafiah crossing" with Abbas' Fatah group, but he insisted Fatah refuse to bow to "pressure from Israel."

Egypt, for its part, has warned Arab Gazans currently in Sinai to return home or face arrest, but apparently does not object to Hamas control of the Rafiah border. President Hosni Mubarak has invited both Hamas and Fatah leaders to Cairo for mediation talks, but he has warned Israel that Gaza would "never" return to Egyptian administration.

No comments: