Problem: Egypt are doing nothing about the smuggling of weapons and terrorists from Sinai to the Gaza Strip through the Philadelphi Route.
In a strongly worded message to the United States, Israel has complained that the weapons smuggling and entry of militants from Egypt into the Gaza Strip is posing a direct threat to the Annapolis conference actually taking place.
Senior Israeli political figures said yesterday that in talks with their American counterparts, they stressed that the porous border in Sinai “is becoming a strategic problem” and asked them to raise the issue with the Egyptians.
“The smuggling of weapons and terrorist experts from Sinai to the Gaza Strip through the Philadelphi Route poses a real threat to the holding of the Annapolis conference,” the message read.
The Israelis also expressed their frustration about Egyptian behavior vis-a-vis Hamas, both in terms of the ease of smuggling and also politically, in view of Cairo’s calls for Fatah and Hamas to renew negotiations for a unity government.
“Egypt is working against everything we are all trying to achieve,” senior Israeli officials told the Americans. “We are organizing a summit to further the diplomatic process under the banner ‘strengthening Abu Mazen’ [Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas], and they are strengthening Hamas.”
Israeli political and defense officials have expressed grave concern about developments along the Philadelphi Route on the border between the Gaza Strip and Sinai in recent weeks. They are particularly irate at the clandestine entry of dozens of Hamas militants through the border near Rafah, without Egypt’s trying to stop them.
Exacerbating these concerns are reports that Islamic Jihad militants have also managed to return to the Gaza Strip from Egypt without any difficulty.
Israeli political sources said Israel has asked Egypt for clarification on both matters, and received excuses and blurred responses.
“The Egyptians are saying they [the militants] entered the Strip through a hole in the fence,” an Israeli political source said.
In its message to Washington, Israel emphasized it “views with grave concern the continued strengthening of Hamas through the smuggling of weapons.”
Solution: Give the Egyptians pictures of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists and tell them these are in fact African refugees. The next time the terrorists try to get through, the Egyptians will miraculously find the will and the skill to pick them off.
Don’t thank me, I’m a giver.
