There Goes the Gaza Blockade

[Saddle Bronc 124]

The Egyptian army has said it will not field a candidate in the upcoming presidential elections in November.

Two (mutually exclusive) interpretations:

• Hatami plans to be "power behind throne", so no need to have official candidate
• Hatami plans to ignore results after elections and continue status-quo

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Two (mutually exclusive) interpretations:

• Hatami plans to be "power behind throne", so no need to have official candidate
• Hatami plans to ignore results after elections and continue status-quo

[Vi-Jay 218]

The fall of the Mubarak dictatorship has changed the power dynamics of the entire area.

"The New Egypt" is stepping out of the shadows of three decades of stiflement and oppression under a U.S.-backed thug, and reclaiming its historical role as a leading political and cultural power in the region. In the few months since the revolution, it has already brokered the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, and will now effectively end Israel's 3-year blockade on Gaza. It's also re-evaluating the price of the natural gas it sells to Israel.

Obviously, the 1978 peace treaty that Israel signed with Egypt (the "Camp David Accords") is under the microscope. This agreement stipulated that as part of the deal, Israel would withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza, and that the Palestinians were to be granted full autonomy in those areas within 5 years.

Israel has been in violation of these commitments for nearly 30 years.

That's what I was waiting for.

I will read the rest of the thread.

I think it will be interesting.

_____________________

Quick read, I will check back later.

Edited May 26, 2011 by Vi-Jay

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Let's just hope either the Egyptians use some sense and takes preventative measures, or Hamas does the smart thing and doesn't use this to bring in more weapons. Otherwise, the casualties on both sides will start to mount even faster.

Terrorists would NEVER bring in more weapons.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Terrorists would NEVER bring in more weapons.

Asymmetric warfare is war between belligerents whose relative military power differs significantly, or whose strategy or tactics differ significantly.

Unless Israel and Palestine want to settle their differences where both sides are evenly matched, say on a soccer field, then your post means nothing.

[Vi-Jay 218]

Unless Israel and Palestine want to settle their differences where both sides are evenly matched, say on a soccer field, then your post means nothing.

Surely he was being facetious?

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

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.

U.S. 'confident' Egypt can provide good security at Rafah border

[Pooky 3,366]

U.S. 'confident' Egypt can provide good security at Rafah border

Capable? Certainly.

Willing? We'll see.

Will they need to?

[ready4ONE 5,400]

The fall of the Mubarak dictatorship has changed the power dynamics of the entire area.

...

Obviously, the 1978 peace treaty that Israel signed with Egypt (the "Camp David Accords") is under the microscope. ... Israel would withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza, and that the Palestinians were to be granted full autonomy in those areas within 5 years.

Israel has been in violation of these commitments for nearly 30 years.

The Palestinians have had no part in abrogating the terms and making the agreement impossible since 1978? Glad you are not showing your bias...

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

The Palestinians have had no part in abrogating the terms and making the agreement impossible since 1978? Glad you are not showing your bias...

The Palestinians were not signatories to the treaty Israel agreed to, although the end of their occupation by Israel was directly part of the deal. So please explain how Palestinians abrogated Israel's obligations under the agreement.

In fact, it is Israel that's doing everything it can to make its obligations impossible. Successive Israeli governments have continued in a comprehensive, orchestrated effort to avoid relinquishing their grip on Palestinian land - this is the true purpose of the illegal settlement enterprise.

If anyone still has any serious doubts about the Israeli government's attitude, check out the map presented by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs - they have an official webpage about the 1978 peace accords. It shows the entire West Bank and Gaza (as well as the Golan Heights and Shebaa Farms) as if they are part of Israel, with nothing to indicate the border between the occupied territories and what the rest of the world actually recognizes as Israel.

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Israel-Egypt%20Peace%20Treaty

[웃 910]

U r ammad rami punjabi steven. The third

[ready4ONE 5,400]

The end of Isreali occupation of the West Bank and Gaza was predicated on the Palestinians getting their proverbial ##it together. When is that going to actually happen?

[Vi-Jay 218]

Read this article while having coffee.

This caught my eye;

Israel, which controls Gaza's cargo crossings, allows most consumer goods into Gaza, but it still restricts exports as well as the entry of much-needed construction materials, saying they could be used by militants. Israel also enforces a naval blockade aimed at weapons smuggling.

Israeli and American officials have expressed concerns that Hamas will exploit the opening to bring weapons and fighters into Gaza.

So did this;

Since the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in February, Egypt's new leadership has vowed to ease the blockade and improve relations with Hamas.

OP, Please comment.

Edited May 28, 2011 by Vi-Jay

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

Allowing access to Gaza is an important step toward freedom. Maybe the Palestinians do have a chance to escape their well-planed genocide after all.

I am happier about this than the fact that we got Osama Bin Laden after having spent just a bit more than $1,000,000,000.00 of US taxpayers' money on this important mission.

[luckytxn 2,263]

Cool. Now lots of new weapons can flood into the terrorists hands and kill many Israels. The Israels of course ill respond in kind. Be like the old days.