Egypt Permanently Opens Gaza Border Crossing

[Supafly]

Wow, I was not having such a great day until now, but I am so glad right now. Something is movibg forward, and I hope things will move on to a better future there.

Egypt Permanently Opens Gaza Border Crossing

(RAFAH, Gaza Strip) — Egypt lifted a four-year-old blockade on the Gaza Strip's main link to the outside world Saturday, bringing relief to the crowded territory's 1.5 million Palestinians but deepening a rift with Israel since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak earlier this year. The Egyptian move will allow thousands of Gazans to move freely in and out of the area — heightening Israeli fears that militants and weapons could easily reach its doorstep.

Israel and Egypt imposed the blockade after the Islamic militant Hamas seized control of Gaza in June 2007. The closure, which also included tight Israeli restrictions at its cargo crossings with Gaza and a naval blockade, was meant to weaken Hamas, but it also fueled an economic crisis in the densely populated territory. (See photos of the tunnel economy of Gaza.)

Hundreds of Gazans gathered early Saturday as the first bus load of passengers crossed the border at 9 a.m. Two Egyptian officers stood guard next to a large Egyptian flag atop the border gate as the vehicle rumbled through.

...

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2074594,00.html#ixzz1Nf3RC2v9

 

[GodsEmbryo]

That is good news: it indeed brings hope for a better future. It's up to the politicians of Israel and all involved countries to take this chance and proceed to something that can resolve the problem... or to screw up once again.

 

[Ulysses31]

Great news, being locked in at both sides meant the Palestinians were caged in like animals making living conditions terrible which disgusted many of the ordinary Egyptian people who pushed the new govt to end this devastating blockade. Not every Palestinian wants to bring rockets into Gaza, many just want food and medicines along with the many other basic goods that Israel banned them from having. Israel is of course unhappy but the new Egyptian govt was not prepared to stand by whilst the people of Gaza struggled in squallid conditions and has promised stringent checks on all males. Israel had hoped that by caging the Palestinians in like animals they would abandon Hamas but anyone with half a brain knows this would only strengthen Hamas with the people relying on them in their isolation, this caging in created nothing but misery and this leads to anger and desperation with more people likely to turn to terror, hopefully this will bring some happiness to the people of Gaza and may even alleviate some of their hostility towards Israel. This is true freedom and basic human compassion in action.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diploma...tian-decision-to-open-rafah-crossing-1.364572

 

[Johan]

I don't think it's good news. I fear many will bring weapons to Gaza

 

[Supafly]

I don't think it's good news. I fear many will bring weapons to Gaza

Well, it could swing this way:

The peaceful people move out the Hamas haters stay in, the IDF could really go to town on them.

I'll wait and see.

 

[georges]

I don't think it's good news. I fear many will bring weapons to Gaza

:dito::yesyes: Opening this border crossing is like opening a terrorist nest. Sooner or later it will have to be closed permanently. And just look at what happens in Egypt, the muslim brotherhood has chances to overthrow the actual government, so don't count much on a so called peace nor embetterment of the situation

 

[Supafly]

Opening the border was really a smart move. If you read articles about the place, the tunnel systems are so widespread, fences and walls are wasted :dunno:

Cars From Libya, Egypt Smuggled Into Gaza Through Tunnels

By Saleh Jadallah

GAZA STRIP, May 27 (Bernama) -- New model cars and four-wheel-drive jeeps smuggled through tunnels beneath southern Gaza Strip at the border with Egypt are becoming an attraction in the narrow enclave's streets.

Along with food supplies and construction materials, tunnel smugglers bring cars and jeeps to satisfy the strip's need for cars after the Tel Aviv regime last year allowed a limited number of cars to be imported as a step to easing its blockade.

The Israelis had banned cars from entering Gaza since 2007 when Hamas took over Gaza Strip from its rival, Fatah. The prices of the cars peaked frantically due to the Israeli closure.

Dealers said cars brought in from Libya were largely demanded by Gazans and abundantly smuggled into the strip due to the unrest in Libya, and especially from Benghazi city controlled by the rebels.

...

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=589541

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

And now watch as Israel invades, kills a couple of innocent people and claims they did it to protect themselves.

 

[LukeEl]

It's about time, now I have a place to go and buy my fireworks, and velvet paintings of Elvis!

 

[Celticsword4]

They have put age limits on who can cross and have black lists of people who can never cross the border. I'm Sure its not to much of a stretch to say israel was behind the scenes threating egypt and trying to control everything thats going on, I could careless as to what happens to israel. Israel is a wicked apartheid state. And makes me as an american look bad becouse we support It.

 

[Rey C.]

And now watch as Israel invades, kills a couple of innocent people and claims they did it to protect themselves.

And unless an IDF soldier cuts his foot on a piece of broken glass, while shooting an unarmed 10 year old Palestinian "terrorist", it'll never even make the news. And if he does, the headline will read: "Brave Israeli Soldier Fights for Life After Pepsi Bottle Slices Through Boot - May Need Tetanus Shot".

 

[lurkingdirk]

I wonder how much pressure was put on Egypt to do this by other nations (like USA) as a means to promote further peace talks in that area.

 

[Ulysses31]

I wonder how much pressure was put on Egypt to do this by other nations (like USA) as a means to promote further peace talks in that area.

The US is slowly trying to alienate Netanyahu and rightly so, he snubbed Obama last year and maybe Obama's getting payback. Also the US hopes this will reduce the chance of another aid Flotilla, if Turkey sent any ships and got in a military conflict with Israel the US is legally obliged to protect Turkey as a fellow NATO ally, a choice they do not want to make. Also the vast majority of Egyptians wanted the crossing opened so the US has to support the wishes of the people they praised for uprising.

 

[Rey C.]

The US is slowly trying to alienate Netanyahu and rightly so, he snubbed Obama last year and maybe Obama's getting payback. Also the US hopes this will reduce the chance of another aid Flotilla, if Turkey sent any ships and got in a military conflict with Israel the US is legally obliged to protect Turkey as a fellow NATO ally, a choice they do not want to make. Also the vast majority of Egyptians wanted the crossing opened so the US has to support the wishes of the people they praised for uprising.

I didn't think of that. If true, then good for him. I'm beginning to like Big Daddy O (in honor of Georges) more &
more. It makes me sick the way the lapdogs in our Congress bowed down to Nothingyahoo last week. During a formal meeting, in front of the American people and God, one of them will call our President a liar. But they kissed Nohingyahoo's ass like he was their king... which maybe he is.

My dream is that before leaving office, Big Daddy O would give me one (just ONE) legion of Praetorian Guard... and I could fix many of the "issues" with the foreign sympathizing traitors in Congress. We couldn't televise it, of course. But with 5,000 men (and 5,000 gladius blades), I do believe I could "fix" a few things. :elaugh: