This Ongoing War: A Blog: 27-May-11: Question to flotilla heroes: Do you know where Rafah is?

Friday, May 27, 2011

27-May-11: Question to flotilla heroes: Do you know where Rafah is?

Crowds waiting at Rafah Crossing

The Post-Mubarak Egyptian government is going to open its border with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, starting tomorrow. A syndicated Associated Press report this morning says

Israeli and American officials said yesterday they were pressing Egypt to ensure that the opening of its border with Gaza does not enable the Hamas militant group to move weapons and militants into the Palestinian territory. The diplomatic efforts were underway after Egypt announced it was permanently opening its Rafah border crossing with Gaza... Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade of Gaza since Hamas violently seized power four years ago. But since President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt was toppled in February, the country’s caretaker government has distanced itself from Israel and moved closer to the Palestinians. Israeli defense officials said that since the upheaval of Mubarak’s ouster, Egypt has all but halted its efforts to stop weapons smuggling through tunnels along the Gaza border. They fear that the expanded crossings at Rafah will make it even easier to get arms and fighters into the Hamas-controlled territory. Israel has long insisted on careful monitoring of people and goods entering Gaza for security reasons.

The crossing itself:
re-opening after four years

So - does the open border mean the 'humanitarian' heroes and 'activists' from Malaysia, Switzerland,France, New Zealand and 'forty other countries', making their way to rescue the struggling, starving Gazans are going to discontinue their 'humanitarian' efforts to sail their flotilla vessels through Israel's protective blockade?

Yes, if it's about humanitarian rescue since Gaza's border will be open on the Egyptian side from Saturday. And no, if the real purpose of their flotilla is to cause damage to Israel and actually has little or nothing to do with humanitarian concerns.

Either way, we wish them happy shopping [25-May-11: Gaza is a disaster etc. Just don't ignore the bargains].

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