Calling Egypt to Account

[msmcghee]

Emanuele Ottolenghi - 01.21.2008 - 17:45

As Israel shut off electricity supplies to Gaza and blocked other shipments to the Strip, Khaled Mashal made an emotional appeal to the Arab world to stand together against the latest “Zionist crime.” As the crisis once again deepens in Gaza (as it periodically does), calls mount again for Israel to re-open the crossings. If Gaza lacks supplies, Israel must be blamed.

But according to this top-secret map of the Middle East, Gaza shares a border with Egypt too! A call to Egypt to let humanitarian aid through the Egypt-Gaza border would have sufficed.

Hamas has now been waging a war against Israel for two years. As I asked six months ago, why should Israel supply them with anything or keep the border open, given that Israel is not the only country sharing a border with Gaza, though it is the only country bordering Gaza that Gaza’s rulers wish and work to destroy?

Egypt, on the other hand, has been turning a blind eye as weapons flow into Gaza. Clearly then, unless it is Ivorian illegal immigrants, Egypt keeps the border open enough for something to go through. How about UNRWA and UNDP food and drugs supplies, oil and gas, milk and flour, instead of weapons?

Given that the international community is powerless to stop Hamas from waging war against Israel, it should turn to Egypt to take responsibility for the suffering of ordinary Gazans. Israel’s decision to seal its borders is not only reasonable, it’s long overdue.

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/ottolenghi/1991

[pelsar]

1. I've been told...

the entrance is too small to let in supplies....the road system is not large enough.....there is no infrastructure for the trucks to park......Israel controls Egyptian foreign policy....(and i guess the UN as well)

[kayecy]

2. Anyone got any suggestinons?

But according to this top-secret map of the Middle East, Gaza shares a border with Egypt too! A call to Egypt to let humanitarian aid through the Egypt-Gaza border would have sufficed.

Well I have to agree with the writer on this one.

Apart from the political Moslem Brotherhood/Hamas connection, what other reason is there for Egypt not opening the border?