You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Egypt to lift restrictions on Gaza border crossing
2011-05-26
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

#3  Seems I remember the last time the border got "opened" by the Gazooks blowing a hole in the wall, the merchants in the vicinity on the Egyptian side complained of rampant Gazook thievery. Howz it supposed to be different this time, exactly?

Not that I care - they deserve each other.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2011-05-26 13:27  

#2  Hey Gaza, there's lebensraum to the east and the door is open.
Posted by: Zebulon Thranter9685   2011-05-26 11:42  

#1  Israel, Mine that crossing, preferably by air.
Use tunneling Bombs.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2011-05-26 02:27  

00:00