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Egypt to lift restrictions on Gaza border crossing
CAIRO -- Egypt will open the Rafah border crossing on a daily basis starting this weekend in a bid to ease the blockade on the Gaza Strip, the official MENA news agency reported on Wednesday.
Shares in the Paleo tunnel industry plummeted...
Hamas income as well. They controlled who could dig, and got a cut of each shipment.
Palestinians will now be able to travel through Rafah -- Gaza's only crossing that bypasses Israel--under entry rules in place before the blockade was tightened in 2007.

Egyptian authorities will now open the border from "9:00 am to 5:00 pm on a daily basis, except for Fridays and public holidays" starting on Saturday, MENA said.

"Palestinian women of all ages will be exempted from visas as will men under 18 or over 40," it said. The exemption also applies to Palestinians entering Egypt for study as long as they have proof of affiliation to an Egyptian university.

"The opening of the crossing comes as part of Egyptian efforts to end the state of Palestinian division and achieve national reconciliation," the news agency reported.
Translation: "We have no problems with Hamas, and are thrilled with the opportunity to stick it to Israel and those dirty Joooos! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!"
Although Egypt had been gradually easing restrictions on the Gaza border -- it had been operating five days a week -- Palestinians needed to coordinate with security authorities before entering Egypt or had to show humanitarian need.

The move is likely to rattle Israel which said earlier this month it was "worried" by Egypt's plans to reopen the crossing. Israeli deputy prime minister Silvan Shalom claimed the opening of the border "could allow the passage of arms and terrorists."
And money. Lots and lots of money donated by those who've given up on Al Qaeda, but still want to support in jihad.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi had announced that Cairo planned to open the crossing, ending what he called his country's "shameful" cooperation in keeping it closed.
Posted by: Steve White 2011-05-26
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=323345