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| Israel-Palestine | |
| Israel 'to reopen Gaza border' | |
| 2004-08-05 | |
| Israel is to reopen the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Friday after a 19-day closure that has stranded Palestinians, reports say. Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian sources said that there was a "very high chance" the border would reopen. The Israeli army has said the border has been closed for security reasons. Many of the estimated 2,000 people stranded have been relying on tents and humanitarian supplies from the Egyptian Red Reuters quoted an Egyptian official as saying: "Israel told the Egyptian side that they will reopen it from 8.30am [0530 GMT] and for eight hours straight." And a Palestinian security source told AFP that "the Israelis have informed us that they will reopen it tomorrow". Earlier, Egypt had urged the United Nations to intervene to help those suffering at the border. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit had "sent an urgent message to Kofi Annan", officials said. The official also said that the minister had spoken to the Israeli ambassador to strongly demand that Israel "abide by its responsibilities" regarding the stranded Palestinians.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #5 "into the sea." I'm not an antisemite, I just like the phrase. |
| Posted by: Shamu 2004-08-05 4:12:27 PM |
| #4 They are useful to the arabs as a dagger to the underbelly of Israel and that's it. Let's say the Arabs actually manage to push the Jews "into the sea." I wonder if the Palestinians might then realize that their entire use to the remaining Arab world would cease as of that moment. Absolutely nobody welcomes them with open arms anywhere, well, except for the Noble Prize committee. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-08-05 3:57:38 PM |
| #3 Rex---The Paleos have not made themselves welcome. Look at Black September. King Hussein of Jordan killed and drove out Paleo forces when they tried to overthrow him. They just destabalize everything everywhere they go. They are useful to the arabs as a dagger to the underbelly of Israel and that's it. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-08-05 3:42:36 PM |
| #2 Looks like Egypt is getting worried it may end up having these "stranded" Palestinians as citizens for life. First Jordan rejects them, now Egypt...hmmm, it does not seem that Palestinians are too popular with their Arab brothers when the going gets rough. Also, it sounds like the Palestinians had another route available to get back to their homes, but they rec'd "orders" not to use it: Israel said the Palestinian Authority had exacerbated the problem by rejecting its offer to use a small alternative route via Israeli territory. |
| Posted by: rex 2004-08-05 12:19:28 PM |
| #1 ima have trouble posting link but this is may be of intrest. israel may expand west bank setlement |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2004-08-05 12:01:01 PM |