Israel closes vital Gaza-Egypt (Rafah) crossing

Israel has closed the vital Gaza-Egypt border crossing for at least six months, infuriating Palestinians who say the move will prevent free travel out of the Gaza Strip.

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Israel said the closure would allow a smooth withdrawal of its remaining troops in Gaza early next week, including those stationed on the volatile border area. The six-month period will be used to build a new terminal at Rafah and arrange security details at the crossing, Israeli officials said.

In the meantime, Palestinians will be able to travel to Egypt through Kerem Shalom, an alternate three-way border point, that will be ready in the middle of next week, an Israeli Ports Authority official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.

But the Palestinians said Israel unilaterally shutdown Rafah. Cabinet minister Ghassan Khatib, who attended a late-night meeting with Israeli officials at a Jordanian Dead Sea resort, said Israel also refused to guarantee that Rafah - the main artery in and out of the Gaza Strip- would be reopened in six months.

al Jazeera

or is he hoping that the world won't notice his attempts to starve out the Palestinians -- oh we can't forget the issue of water being cut off to the Palestinians by settlers.

I'm fed up with both sides. But it would seem that deliberate confrontations are happening -- and Sharon is a master at getting a violent reactions from the Palestinians.

"Divide and rule" comes to mind.

How do you rate the US government's response to Hurricane Katrina?
Fast :
6%
Adequate :
10%
Slow :
79%
Unsure :
4%

Number of pollers : 17974

As for your post, I have a feeling that the Gaza pull out will foreshadow an event that will make the Trojan Horse look like a child's toy.

Just a feeling.

and I will always worry that Israel has da bomb.

There are so many great people who happen to be Israel -- in fact I have a good friend who is now living in Israel. But also in Israel there are the hardliner fundamentalist nuts.

However, the damned religious fundamentalists -- if they get their thumb on the nuke button . . . the whole world is so screwed.

Yes there are also Islamic fundamentalists, and in the US we have Christan wing nut fundamentalists.

Any fundamentalists having his finger on the Nuke is a disturbing thought.

There is nothing good you can do with a nuke.
A terror weapon and nothing else.

Until Sharon, I thought there might be a chance for peace.