Israel Matzav

Egypt prevents car imports to, 'Palestinians' escaping from, Gaza

In their continuing 'siege' on Gaza, Egyptian authorities prevented 'Palestinians' who had crossed via a tunnel at the Rafah crossing point from entering Egypt on Saturday. They also prevented the importation of new cars to Gaza, blaming Israel for the decision. New cars have not been imported to Gaza (who could afford one anyway?) since 2007.

Egyptian authorities on Saturday declared a state of emergency on its borders with Gaza, security sources said.

The move came after Egyptian authorities received information that Palestinians were entering Egypt from Gaza via underground tunnels, sources said, reporting that forces monitoring a tunnel entrance saw five Palestinians leave the tunnel. Security forces chased them, and they ran back into the tunnel, sources added.

Egyptian police stopped an attempt to smuggle cars into Gaza on Saturday, after receiving information that smugglers were digging a tunnel under the border, sources said, adding that the smugglers fled following armed clashes with security forces. Sources further said that police seized a car prepared for smuggling at the scene, and uncovered a store of cars near tunnel entrances in Rafah.

Under Israel's siege of Gaza, the import of cars into the Strip has been banned since 2007. Palestinian crossing liaison officers were notified Thursday that a recent decision to allow cars into Gaza had been canceled by Israeli authorities.

...

Egyptian police continue a campaign to close the tunnels, occasionally detonating the Egyptian side of the passageways. Unconfirmed reports that officers pump poisonous gasses into the areas have also surfaced.

'Israel's siege of Gaza?' The last time I checked, Egypt is an independent country and can decide on their own whether or not to prevent goods from reaching Gaza through the Rafah crossing point. Although, if they are willing to take orders from us, I think we should start giving them.

As to the poison gas story, I rate that one up there with the stories about Israel exporting the AIDS virus to the 'Palestinians' or trying to increase the 'Palestinians' libido by sending in Viagara.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:47 PM