Egypt reneges, Olmert keeps quiet
Egypt reneged this evening on an agreement that was negotiated last week between Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak pursuant to which the 'Palestinian pilgrims' returning from the hajj were to enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing controlled by Israel, and not through the Rafah crossing controlled by Egypt. As a result, several senior Hamas terrorists who had gone to Iran and Syria for training were allowed to re-enter Gaza and some $150 million in cash - enough to keep the terror regime going for several months - also entered the Strip. While an earlier headline characterized the Olmert-Barak-Livni junta as being enraged, the current headline in the JPost only says 'riled.'"This is against all agreements," a senior defense official told the Post, noting that Egypt's decision to open up Rafah against Israel's objections exactly one week after Defense Minister Ehud Barak visited Egypt for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, was "grounds for a diplomatic crisis."But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert has apparently decided to grin and bear it:
The official said that while the decision to open Rafah was detrimental for Israel, it would cause far more damage to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, since the move is viewed as a success for Hamas, and undermine Abbas and his government in Ramallah.
The return of the Palestinians ended a five-day standoff that left them stranded in Egypt.
Two people, including one traveler holding a large cloth bag [full of cash? CiJ], were the first to pass through Rafah, greeted by green-vested representatives of Hamas.
...
An Egyptian official said Wednesday that Israel had been "informed" of the Egyptian decision to let the pilgrims back but officials in the Foreign Ministry said they had not been informed about Egypt's decision.
Mushir al-Masri, a Hamas lawmaker who came to the crossing to greet the returning pilgrims, praised Egypt for its decision.
"This is a humanitarian case since the start. Egypt's position was laudable. We thank Egypt," al-Masri said.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, apparently trying to contain the damage, said in a published interview Monday that he valued Egypt's friendship and prays for the health of President Hosni Mubarak.DEBKA adds:
Abbas is currently in Cairo and raised the issue in a meeting with Mubarak, PA Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Wednesday.
"The Egyptians completely coordinated their return with the Israeli side," Malki said.
Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has apparently decided not to kick up a fuss for fear of provoking violent Hamas outbreaks that would spoil US president George W. Bush’s visits to Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Egypt, starting Jan. 8.Just imagine how the 'Palestinians' would treat us if we had a 'peace treaty' with them like we have with Egypt. Anyone think Congress will hold up any Egyptian foreign aid money as a result of this incident?
Cairo claims Israel was notified of its reversal but made no response, while Jerusalem denies being informed. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who flew to Cairo to press Egypt to give way to Hamas, Tuesday, Jan. 1, claims Israel was informed.
Israeli security sources further report that Egypt took advantage of Israel’s blind eye to get rid of 300 Palestinian terrorists, who were detained in Sinai - some of them al Qaeda and its allied Fatah al Islam activists, who were smuggled in from Lebanon. They entered Gaza under cover of the returning pilgrim group.
Military sources told DEBKAfile that, after this abject surrender to terrorists, they fear the new Egyptian-Israeli deal to eradicate Hamas’ smuggling arms tunnels from Sinai to Gaza will never take off. It was only agreed last week in Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak’s talks in Cairo with President Hosni Mubarak.
One Israeli officer asked: What is the point of fighting the smuggling tunnels when Cairo lets war funds and arms sail through the Rafah crossing in broad daylight?
Update 1:07 AM
Interesting comment from Zvi Mazel, Israel's former ambassador to Egypt:
It may have been naïve to believe that this is what would happen. The pilgrims were very vocal in their determination to go back the way they had come, and their makeshift camps with wailing women and resolute men made front page news throughout the Arab world. Mubarak did try to denounce Arab media, but the outcry did not abate and he gave in. Egypt was not prepared to be portrayed any longer as a country persecuting innocent pilgrims in order to do Israel's bidding.There is only one solution that has a chance of working: Let the IDF take back the Philadelphi corridor and police it and the border crossing at Rafah. The world still regards as an 'occupier' either way, and at least this way we can put a stop to the smuggling.
Two years ago, the decision to withdraw from Philadelphi was not taken lightly. Many voices had been raised to warn that it would be folly to entrust the Egyptians with guarding the border. However, a legal argument won the day: Israel, it was argued, would still be considered as the occupying power if if the IDF remained along the border.
It turned out to have been a major mistake. In spite of the fact that not a single Israeli soldier remains there, in world public opinion Israel is still the occupying power. Worse, entrusting the Egyptian with guarding the border showed a staggering lack of strategic understanding.
Though Egypt has made peace with Israel, it is first and foremost an Arab country aspiring to regional leadership, and wholeheartedly on the side of the Palestinians in their struggle against Israel.
The idea that Egyptian soldiers would be instructed to stop smuggling at all costs - which means they would have to resort to violence and to live fire - is ludicrous in that context.
Egypt cannot afford the opprobrium that would be attached to killing Palestinians on an almost daily basis for the sake of keeping the border safe for Israel. Huge public demonstration and rioting could occur in Egypt. We just saw the way President Hosni Mubarak had to bow to pressure and let the pilgrims go, in spite of his undertaking to Ehud Barak.
It is now up to Israel to think long and hard about what it wants to do. What we need is a solution, not someone to blame.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:04 AM
2 Comments:
Carl - the idea that Egypt, an Arab country could be entrusted with defending Israel was insane. Its this same insane belief that holds the Palestinians will suppress terror and give up their dream of seeking Israel's destruction if they are given their own reichlet. Of course, Israel's elites gave up the responsibility of securing the border with the IDF with the fig leaf the EU will do the job. Until Hamas took over and the EU ran away. And now Israel is forced to sit by helpless as the terrorists have a free corridor to smuggle money, men and war material into Gaza. Israel is lead by a bunch of meshuggenehs. This is no way to run a Jewish state!
Carl. I understand what you are saying however I am sorry to say but Olmert is simply the evil middle man in all of this.
Why is it ignored that Bush calls Egypt a friend in the war on terror when Egypt has allowed thousands of weapons tunnels dug which has brought slaughter and pain to Israelis? This has been going on for years which btw Israel has not been silent on. Yet post 9-11 war on terror Bush and his buddies have kept their mouths shamelessly closed giving Egypt and the enemies of Israel the upper hand...thus telling the world Israel is indeed a pariah.
What do you expect from a weak evil puppet only taking orders from someone who called himself, the best friend of Israel?
Indeed Olmert is supposedly in charge of Israel and is grossly negating his obligations both to his country and to G-d no doubt. Yet to not see this horrible miscarriage of justice as something in a larger more sinister picture does not help Israel today tomorrow or next year.
If we are to talk truth it is important to talk onehundred percent truth. If we continue ignore the truth as to who is the puppet master and most importantly WHY and FOR WHOM we are as guilty as Olmert himself.
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