"With Hamas takeover, tough calls for Israel"

"Kevin Kennedy, the U.N.'s humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, said last week that 65 percent of Palestinians now live on less than $2.41 a day.

'Israel, as the occupying power, is responsible for the health and welfare of the occupied population in Gaza," Kennedy said. "Whether they do it on their own or have someone else do it for them, that's another matter.'"

~ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19515664/


"A Palestinian parliamentarian belonging to Hamas announced Friday evening that the organization would have its military wing "act accordingly" if Israel refused to open the Rafah Crossing within 48 hours, the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency reported."

Sheik Yunis al-Astal called for an immediate solution to Palestinian civilians waiting on the Egyptian side of the border


~http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1183053067000&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull


"The Rafah border has been frequently closed by Israeli authorities since violence in the Gaza Strip flared in the summer of 2006. Recent factional fighting has led to the pedestrian border crossing - which is a vital link for Gazans seeking employment, medical treatment and education outside the territory - being closed since 9 June."

~http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/e3968447df7efacf39650919df48f1c6.htm



Tough calls indeed.
I do hope cooler heads prevail.

srael, as the occupying power, is responsible for the health and welfare of the occupied population in Gaza," Kennedy said. "Whether they do it on their own or have someone else do it for them, that's another matter.'"

it seems some believe that egypt does israels bidding...that is the only explanation that i can find for the above.

___

funny thing about that... i dont think the egyptians agree. they've refused to stop the smuggling, even though israel has "demanded/asked them to over the years.


Maybe theres something i missed about israels ability to control rafah...Hamas, who actually sits in Rafah sure doesnt agree, they seem to believe its an egyptian matter.

so the question remaiins....never answered.
so how does israel control rafah?

and why doesnt the UN simply ask Egypt to open the border?....are they afraid of egypt? or maybe the US admin will get mad? (as if the UN never got the US admin upset.....)...they could ask?

<snip>

"Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, spokesperson of Hamas said in a statement issued Saturday that his movement is investing serious efforts to reopen the Rafah terminal.

Dr. Abu Zuhri said contacts are made with Egyptian official in bid to pressure Israel to reopen the border-crossing to allow thousands of Palestinian passengers to cross to Gaza Strip."

<snip>

"Shortly after Hamas took total control of the Gaza strip- two weeks ago- scores of Fatah security officers and loyalists escaped the costal region to Egypt. Moreover the European observers whose presence is essential to keep Rafah crossing open, left their post leading the Israeli army and Egyptian security forces to close the Border.

Several hundreds of those passengers were already stuck ont he Egyptian side of the border before Hamas took control of the strip, as Israel did not allow a regular opening of it during the past 12 months.

Closing the Rafah crossing- the only way for Palestinians in or out of the Gaza Strip - has left thousands of Palestinians, who were in Egypt mostly for medical treatment, stranded at the borders without money and unable to get back to their homes in the Gaza strip."

http://www.imemc.org/article/49240

left their post leading the Israeli army and Egyptian security forces to close the Border.

there are no IDF forces in rafah or on the philedelphia route, nor in egypt.....so how can israeli forces "close the border".