Starting on Saturday, May 28th, Egyptian authorities will open the Rafah crossing point daily, except Fridays and holidays, on a permanent basis. Palestinians with valid passports to cross into Egypt from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on business days. The move is part of Egyptian efforts aimed at ending internal Palestinian division and achieve national reconciliation.
Reaction from the Jewish press was unfavorable to the move, though Israel's homeland security Minister Matan Vilna'i said on a radio interview that Egypt did not violate any agreements with Israel with the opening of the border. However, he did claim that the opening of the Rafah crossing point in Gaza could be problematical for Israel. It is still not clear as to whether the decision is limited to the passage of people, or if it includes the transfer of goods.
'This is a dangerous development that could lead to weapons and al-Qaida smuggling into Gaza'.
Israeli Vice Premier Silvan Shalom 5/26/2011
While Israel controls all other official entry points into Gaza, this decision is a dramatic departure from the Mubarak-led regime which supported the isolation of Hamas who ruled over the Gazan territory. Rafah is the only crossing which does not pass through Israel.
However, this relaxation of border control was instituted by Egypt following their leading role in mediating a reconciliation between the opposing factions of Fatah and Hamas.
In a statement today in Gaza City, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum hailed the decision as 'courageous'.
In spite of the opening of the Rafah border crossing, the organizers of the next Turkish flotilla are going ahead with their plans to sail next month in their continued effort to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza. Israeli expatriate Dror Fyler, who coordinates the Gaza movement in Sweden, stated that the opening of the passage was good news for both Israel and Gaza. He said:
It will reduce pressure and give Gazans a break that will minimize the possibility that extremists are exploiting the situation to create violence
The Rafah border crossing has been closed since 2006 when Israeli solider Gilad Shalit was kidnapped by Hamas, and has been held in Gaza ever since.
Comments