Egypt To Open Rafah Crossing Permanently

The Associated Press

CAIRO -- Egypt's official news agency says the Rafah border crossing with Gaza will be permanently opened for Palestinians on Saturday - a move that will significantly ease a blockade of the impoverished territory.

MENA said Wednesday that Egypt's new military rulers set the date for the opening of the crossing as part of efforts "to end the status of the Palestinian division and achieve national reconciliation."

MORE...

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/25/2234465/egypt-to-open-rafah-crossing-permanently.html

Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil el-Araby said he has discussed the possibility of an exchange of ambassadors with his Iranian counterpart, the Egyptians state-run news website Egynews reported on Wednesday.

"We told the Iranian minister that Egypt is opening new chapters with everyone and that it doesn't want any aggressions with anyone in the world," el-Araby said, according to the site.

The discussion between el-Araby and Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi reportedly took place during a conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in Bali, Indonesia.

El-Araby, who will soon leave his post in order to assume the role of Secretary General of the Arab League, said an exchange of ambassadors was discussed, but that "this is not the right time" for it to take place, given Egypt's transitional phase.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/report-egypt-iran-discuss-resuming-diplomatic-ties-after-30-years-1.364015

Oh, this is going to be fun.

The Israeli blockade is cruel and illegal (collective punishment is a war crime under the Geneva Conventions). It's wonderful that it will finally come to an end

This is the border between Gaza and Egypt.

Egypt was blocking this crossing.

That's how they are able to open it now.

But are you going to argue that Israel wasn't the one spearheading the effort to keep the blockade enforced? And the opening of the Rafah border basically ends the Israeli blockade as well, since all goods can simply travel through Rafah from this point forward.

And that both countries were responsible for its implementation.

Also, the borders between Israel and Gaza have been open for some time for the transport of goods (with some limitations).

Emigration out of Gaza is forbidden, and in addition to that are severe restrictions on imports. For example, up until now Gaza has been unable to import basic supplies needed to reconstruct their water treatment system, which has lead to the vast majority of the water in Gaza being undrinkable. Imports on things like fishing nets are also curtailed, in an attempt to destroy the Gazan economy (largely successful until now). Israeli groups like Gisha have covered this extensively. Maybe you should do some research.

The blockade was jointly enforced by Egypt and Israel, but Egypt rather shamefully enforced the blockade in compliance with demands from Israel. Egypt didn't have anything to gain really, it was mostly a diplomatic effort, influenced by the US pressures (the US provides large amounts of aid to Egypt and thus has tremendous leverage in negotiating Egyptian policy).

They are open for the transport of goods currently (under restrictions) and in the past they have been open for both the transport of goods and the movement of people.

Truckloads of goods cross over from Israel into Gaza on a daily basis.

The information you read from Gisha should make these facts plain to you.

Movement of people from the Gaza strip has been severely restricted, particularly in regards to the Erez crossing which can only be crossed in the case of a medical emergency. The Egyptian border has had some exceptions to this. Notably in 2010 after the massacre on the flotilla Egypt opened up it's border and allowed free transfer of people for a limited amount of time, but by and large Egypt has blocked attempts to move to and from Gaza. Construction supplies which are desperately needed are also blocked by the seige. So by definition the borders can't be called "open". You're simply wrong

Saying "truckloads" of goods are allowed into Gaza doesn't really mean much, as there are over a million people in Gaza. About 70-100 trucks are allowed into Gaza every day under the status quo. Before the blockade about 700 trucks were entering Gaza a day, to put that in perspective.

And your post here is internally inconsistent as in your second paragraph you indicate that goods are indeed coming into Gaza from Israel which is precisely the argument I am making.

If you want to consider the border between Israel and Egypt "open", fine. So long as you understand that the goods allowed to cross are subject to severe restrictions, both in the quantity allowed in, and the type allowed in. Construction material which is desperately needed to rebuild Gaza, for example, is still banned.

Construction materials, though, are not banned if they are related to a UN sponsored development project.

The 2010 "easing" after the massacre on the flotilla was supposed to alleviate this allow more international projects to move ahead but in reality virtually nothing has changed

http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/A6927C8267A59AFA852577EB0063E7BE

From a Palestinian news source:

Limited building materials cross into Gaza

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Israeli authorities opened Gaza's sole remaining commercial crossing terminal on Wednesday, for the limited import of building materials designated to international development projects.

Palestinian liaison official, Raed Fattouh, said Kerem Shalom crossing in the southern Gaza Strip was opened for 270-280 truckloads of aid to commercial, agricultural and transport sectors.

Ten truckloads of cement were marked for a German development agency project in Sheikh I’jilin, and 19 truckloads of cement and metal, and 60 truckloads of gravel, would be delivered to US development agency projects, Fattouh said.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=390856

There are some projects that are allowed to go through, but these are rare and far between. The vast majority of the time, Israel does not allow the UN to move forward with it's projects (even after the "easing" only 7 percent of the UN's aid has been approved for transfer). If you want figure to help understand the enormity of the Crisis in Gaza. The UN estimates 670,000 truckloads of construction material are needed to rebuild Gaza, and Israel only allows in some 700 trucks a month.

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israel on Tuesday allowed 280 trucks of goods and aid into Gaza through the sole operating supplies terminal Kerem Shalom, Palestinian officials said.

Liaison officer Raed Fattouh said the delivery would include construction materials for UNRWA and USAID projects as well as 20 new cars.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=392464

The blockade was jointly enforced by Egypt and Israel, but Egypt rather shamefully enforced the blockade in compliance with demands from Israel. Egypt didn't have anything to gain really, it was mostly a diplomatic effort, influenced by the US pressures (the US provides large amounts of aid to Egypt and thus has tremendous leverage in negotiating Egyptian policy).

Namely, what demands were made from Israel? What kind of pressure was brought to bear on egypt by america? Is this opinion based on known policy statements or are you just making assumptions?

intelligent man, ElBaradei...that scares the hell out of them vs the asshole Mubarak who is history.


Who can forget this too about ElBaradei:

Former IAEA head suggests Iraq war crime probe of Bush administration
Nobel-winning Egyptian Mohamed ElBaradei accuses U.S. leaders of grotesque distortion in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion and chides Washington for reluctant approach to talks with Iran.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/former-iaea-head-suggests-iraq-war-crime-probe-of-bush-administration-1.357684?localLinksEnabled=false

After all, we know the MB represents traditional liberal/progressive values and represents progress over the Mubarak regime.

That generally works out really well.

Is there no one who has actually been living in Egypt for the past few decades who is an intelligent man (or woman) who might be able to win an election there?

your opinion, an outsider who hasn't lived there for years not working out well.

Polls indicate however that this particular outsider would not do well.

Our two opinions, outsiders as we both are, are simply opinions.

My observations are based on what I am reading out of Egypt.

My prediction is that El Bareidi will not end up leading that country, and, rather, they will choose someone who has been living in Egypt for the past few decades.

I guess we will have to wait and see what happens.

it is about our opinions. I said he may lead Egypt, and if he did, he will make the Israel government tremble.

Whoever the Egyptians decide on, I hope delivers for them what they have wished for, the opposite of Mubarak.

I don't see why he would make the Israeli government tremble.

He is actually probably one of the people the Israeli government would most like to see in power in Egypt.

...politics. Our best hope is some populist left wing general will sweep the elections away from the Muslim Brotherhood. And regardless of who wins any election I have doubts that the Egyptian military will hand over full sovereignty to a civilian government.

represent them well due to his years away from Egypt is nonsense.

Egyptians are in such a remarkable place, the full circle should not be expected yet.

because one egyptian, though his chances are probably nil, might actually bring egypt in to the 21st century and maybe even bring some democracy to egypt...and if egypt goes democratic and has real western values that must be bad for israel because:

israel is a fascist, nazi type regime that abhors western values...is that it?

or perhaps you have another reason why we would hate to see an arab democracy? (i cant think of one, but you must have one....)

government to continue, that's why.

assuming that god shines her light on egypt and they get themselves are real democracy....that will make the occupation harder?....why? will the Palestinians suddenly stop attacking israel? will the PA suddenly become a stable civil rights oriented govt? will hamas go away?

what exactly will change in regards to the Palestinians?...


actually there might be a change...egypt might get fed up with the PA/hamas anti western anti democratic ways and tell them to get first fix their own internal government.....

but they have decided year after bloody year to take the risks of continuing it for more land. Your
government thinks Palestinian blood is cheap, and they don't think much of yours either.

that hardly means the "trance scene' will expand into the Gaza and the westbank.

some like you, simple believe that once that happens peace will obviously break out because it simply must....the religious route. Its nice if you have it.

others like me, look around at the various societies, the different people involved, the "arab spring" Assads reaction, Lebanon previous civil war, Saudi Arabias version of peace (who did they just invade?), irans policy toward others, hizballas take over of S.Lebanon (previous to the last war), hamas getting elected and their view of dissent as well as their policy of random attacks, Egyptians army use of gas, etc etc etc.

and i see that nothing is certain when democracy is not ingrained in the society......i.e. for those of us who are not religious and dont have such an ideology, that a single event can make "everything all right" (everyone will then "see the light"), I am far more skeptical.

and its pretty stupid to be put in a situation simaler to gaza, when missiles are launched randomly, attacks occur weekly and we are limited in what we can do to stop them.
----

if egypt would get itself a real western democracy, the theory (wasn't this a bush theory?) is that such a politicalization would then expand across the region and affect everyone. Well it may affect the people of the region, less so their leaders. Its not that I'm against it, quite the contrary, but i give it less than 1% chance of actually happening, but it would be good thing for israel, not a bad thing.

You: others like me, look around at the various societies, the different people involved, the "arab spring" Assads reaction,....

The various societies are the reason the occupation continues, not Israel's land grab, eh?

I guess this was about security too, huh?




Israel admits it covertly canceled residency status of 140,000 Palestinians
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-admits-it-covertly-canceled-residency-status-of-140-000-palestinians-1.360935?utm_source=Mondoweiss+List&utm_campaign=c9c2b0cb66-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email

have no answer to difference scenarios......

you believe with all your heart that the problem is the occupation. I have no idea if you realize that the occupation has very different meanings to different Palestinians and their supporters, both armed and not.

however you define the occupation and its solution, there will another group that disagrees with you and will continue the fight...

you seem not to have an ability to accept that possible scenario and then offer options.....that is the very characteristic that i find in those who are religious..an inability to discuss various possible outcomes and the various solutions that may or may not work.
__________________________________

this is so dramatically lopsided: 64/19. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine
http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/6F2DF1FFB49D51AD852576C100537C1F



I do see that you do not appreciate Israel's main objective through
the occupation, the land instead of peace objective..your security, your state, is in jeopardy
the longer this continues...religion is not the problem.

to hold on to your view, one has to ignore history...that too is part of being religious- a single view that must ignore past events the prove otherwise

israel withdrew from the sinai
from lebanon
from gaza
from parts of the westbank...

fact is israel has withdrawn, given certain political realities both internal and external, hence all you have are politicians words and interpretations for your belief whereas actual events prove you wrong.
_______

as far as what the world "thinks".....you've got to be kidding to put that as some kind of "moral indicator of right or wrong..... (do you really really want me to list the morality of the various countries.....it will be a very very very long list, starting with NATO and US wanton killing of civilians in Libya these last months....)

Gaza/Cairo/Tel Aviv - Gazans Thursday welcomed Egypt's decision to permanently open its border with the Gaza Strip, saying they felt a door was open to what had often felt like a 'huge prison.'

A jubilant Hamas, the Islamist movement ruling the strip called the step 'the right decision in the right direction' and said it would make life easier for ordinary Gazans.

But Israel, which first imposed a blockade on Gaza five years ago after rocket and mortar fire from the strip at its southern communities and after the hostage-taking of an Israeli soldier, who is still held captive by Hamas, was apprehensive.

The Egyptian government said that starting Saturday the Rafah border crossing would be open daily from 9 am to 5 pm (0700 to 1500 GMT), except for Fridays and holidays.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1641659.php/Hamas-jubilant-at-opening-of-Rafah-border-Israel-alarmed

Well, I am glad the crossing will be open now, but I wish Bibi had not wasted the opportunity to get Shalit freed in exchange. As it is, he got nothing.

You've never supported Israel, and now you pretend to care about Shalit? Please.

Prisoner exchange talks between Israel and Hamas, geared at the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, were near their fruition, the Palestinian envoy to Russia said on Thursday.

The comment by Fayed Mustafa, quoted by Russian news agency RIA Novosti, came after Egypt's former ambassador to Israel ignited a rumor frenzy after he was cited in the Al Masry Al Youm newspaper as saying that the Shalit deal was just hours away.

Later Thursday the Prime Minister's Office denied that there were any significant progress in Shalit talks, a claim that was seconded by an Egyptian official speaking to Haaretz.

However, speaking with the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Palestinian envoy to Russia Fayed Mustafa said that "negotiations between Israel and Hamas, ongoing in Cairo with Egyptian mediation, are close to completion."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/palestinian-official-israel-hamas-close-to-reaching-shalit-deal-1.365604

The United States Thursday said it was confident that Egypt would provide adequate gate-keeping at the Rafah border crossing to Gaza when it broadens access this weekend.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. had some concerns about the move to open the crossing to more people, but added the Egyptians were "well aware" of them - and of the need to screen out contraband weapons from Gaza.

"We obviously support efforts to meet the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza, but those efforts should also ensure that the transfer of weapons or other material or financial support for terrorism is blocked," Toner told reporters.

"We also believe that the Egyptians are fully aware of and capable of providing that kind of security," he said.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-confident-egypt-can-provide-good-security-at-rafah-border-1.364359

Egyptian envoy says no one will block opening as hundreds pass from Gaza to Sinai; Kadima slams Netanyahu for allowing "end of blockade."

Egyptian envoy to the Palestinian territories Yasser Othman said that Egypt "would not let anyone interfere" with the opening of the Rafah crossing to regular pedestrian traffic, Army Radio reported.

Egypt announced on Thursday that, as of Saturday, the border crossing will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Fridays and official holidays. Palestinian men aged 18 to 40 will need visas to cross. Older men, boys and females of all ages will be able to travel without one. Some 300 people crossed from Gaza to Sinai in the first hour after the crossing opened on Saturday.

By early afternoon a Palestinian border official said some 450 people had crossed through the Palestinian side of the border, equivalent to the total number of people able to cross in a day and a half last week.

http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=222597

cannot be allowed to remain open. All it is doing is giving the green light to more horror. I fear for my friends in the Trance scene.