Israel is considering creating a no-man's land to the north of the Gaza Strip to bolster security after its historic pullout in a move set only to further isolate the impoverished Palestinian territory. The possibility was raised after thousands of people illegally streamed across Gaza's border with Egypt since Israeli troops left the territory on Monday, exacerbating fears that militants could infiltrate the Jewish state. "We want to build an electric fence or wall on Israeli territory, north of the Gaza Strip, to create a no-man's land prohibiting access to the Palestinians and alleviating the danger to Israeli towns in the sector from the chaos in Gaza," said a spokeswoman from the Defense Ministry. "We also want to ask the Palestinians to establish their own no-man's land of a few dozen meters, in consultation with Israel," she added.
| Another indication that Gaza will get thumped if the Paleos act stooopid. |
Palestinian Planning Minister Ghassan Khatib said the "unilateral" decision was proof that Israel remained an occupation force regardless of its withdrawal of all troops from Gaza following 38 years of military rule. "Israel is working on a unilateral basis. They didn't ask us to do this. Israel is still an occupying force," Khatib charged.
| That statement makes no sense to me. It suggests the Paleos aren't real clear on the concept of "border," and they're not real good with the concept of "mine" and "yours." |
| Sure they are, Fred. "What's mine is mine, and what's yours is...mine." |
In the four days since Israeli troops rolled out of Gaza, the largely unstemmed flow of people in and out of Egypt has exacerbated Israeli fears that the porous border is becoming prey for weapons-smuggling militants. |
